People are still nervous [to go out to dine]. "Over the three-day period, footfall rose in retail destinations across the UK by 18.9% post 6pm, versus a rise of 9.6% at lunch time (12pm to 2pm). Use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme at a participating establishment: to get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a … "Even if people are coming out less frequently than previously, even if they're spending less than before, the key thing is they're coming out, and that's got to have a positive impact on the economy overall. We saved so much from not doing anything during full lockdown and will be taking advantage now.
Going out twice next week and once a week the 2 weeks after that (all pre-booked). "Other restaurant chains are more cautious about the impact the scheme will have overall.The Restaurant Group - which owns a portfolio of restaurants and pubs including Wagamama, Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito, Garfunkel's Restaurant and Brunning & Price - remains circumspect. High streets did best, with footfall up 4.5%.The figures suggest the scheme, which was launched by The chancellor’s initiative offers a 50% discount, up to £10 per person, at participating venues during the month of August between Monday and Wednesday, typically the quietest days of the week. These are external links and will open in a new window"A lot of people have used the subsidy as the first time they're going out again - it takes once or twice venturing out of the home to get them to feel comfortable," says Will Beckett, the co-founder of steakhouse chain Hawksmoor.Six of his restaurants have received a combined 15,000 bookings for the 13 days of the "Eat out to help out" scheme, while two sites remain closed. "Anecdotally, it looked like business was good on Thursday evening, so hopefully demand, buoyed by the good weather, will still be strong over the weekend," says chief executive Kate Nicholls.Luke Davis is chief executive of IW Capital, a UK venture capital firm that focuses on high growth companies, including the hospitality sector. Hawksmoor says "Eat out to help out" is a win, even if revenues are not necessarily higher than before The government promotion, which launched this week, gives people a discount of up to 50% up to a maximum of £10 when eating or drinking soft drinks in a participating restaurant or other food establishment every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August.It's early days, but there was an average rise in visits to retail destinations of 2.3% on Tuesday 4 August and Wednesday 5 August, compared with the previous week, according to industry analysts Springboard. "We've had 50% more covers, but we didn't make 50% more revenue, as our spend per cover is high," says Mr Beckett. Eat out to help out: Coronavirus scheme offering UK diners 50% off begins . "To bring the sector back to life, it's going to need a lot of investment. "The sad truth is that people are still scared, the damage has already been done. "Mr Davis said that he has recently been contacted by several individuals in the hospitality industry, asking him to raise funds to purchase distressed assets. Eat Out To Help Out is now underway in the UK – the Government-backed scheme to get people eating in cafes and restaurants following the coronavirus lockdown. "The EIS is a government scheme that offers tax reliefs to individual investors who buy new shares in companies that qualify.A HM Treasury spokesperson said: "Since the start of this crisis, we have provided a wealth of support for the hospitality sector... [including] a 15% cut in VAT, cash grants worth up to £25,000 per business property, 100% business rates relief, eviction protection and tax deferrals. "Gimmicky schemes like the ones we're seeing at the moment aren't going to stop the carnage," says Mr Davis, who owns bar and restaurant Rockwater in Hove, and is one of the lead shareholders in pub and restaurant chain Brewhouse and Kitchen. You do need people to come along and buy up these assets, people who are willing to take the risk," he added. "The most obvious way in my mind that it's helping restaurants, is that it's helping people to learn to go out again," Mr Beckett told the BBC. The 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme will chop bills by up to 50% in August. Getty. The government isn't going to be able to stop the rot. There is no guarantee. "Despite the uptick in business, Hawksmoor' Mr Beckett expects the scheme to cause a "slight displacement" where "some of the demand moves to Monday-Wednesday, from Thursday-Sunday".The extra bookings have been helpful to the business, but only to a certain extent.