As part of its post-pandemic recovery plans, the government has come up with the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme. 

In a bid to encourage people back out to bars, cafes and restaurants, everyone in the UK is to receive a fifty-percent-off meals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month of August. It had initially been intended that everyone would receive a voucher but it has now been changed and now the discount will simply be applied by the restaurant. 

Meanwhile, in another attempt to help the hospitality industry back on its feet after several months of shutdown, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also temporarily slashed the rate of VAT. For the next six months, VAT will be reduced from 20 percent to five percent.

This may or may help offset the inevitable rise in the cost of living in the months ahead, however the government has told businesses they may chose to use the cut to cover their Covid lockdown losses, meaning they do not have to pass it on to customers. 

“Although some have vowed to pass it on in the form of discounts.

“This comes at a time when many in the hospitality sector are fearful for their future, but this will help paint a brighter picture and give businesses a fighting chance to survive and save jobs,” said Colin Neill from Hospitality Ulster. 

“As businesses face the reality of operating at a reduced capacity for some time to come, ongoing government support is going to be crucial on the long and hard road to recovery.”