Back to normality? Businesses hope for 'eat out to help out' scheme boost

Restaurants, pubs and cafes across the UK are hoping for a boost from the the “eat out to help out” scheme, which launches on Monday. Venues ranging from the Ivy in London’s West End to family favourites such as Nando’s have signed up to the initiative, which offers diners a discount of up to £10 per head on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August.

Here are the views of independent hospitality businesses that have signed up to a scheme designed to help one of the industries hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant

“I think it will bring people out but I don’t think it’s enough to go back to how we were,” said Saiqul Miah, owner of the Ashiana restaurant in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire. “People are cautious and some have lost their jobs. I think it will mainly be regular customers who return.”

Miah, who is in his late 30s and lives in Keighley, West Yorkshire was devastated when his business had to close in March. “There was a silver lining to it though,” he said. “We refurbished inside and transformed our garden into a nice alfresco dining area. We spent nearly £90,000 and used as many local contractors as possible.”

“As a small business owner, I know that the hospitality industry here will only recover if people can be persuaded to spend locally too.”

Financially, the investment appears to be paying off as trading has improved. “We’ve taken bookings for tables for the first week of August and demand is not slowing down. We’ve also increased our team to 19 by hiring two new people to work in the alfresco area.”

“We might be doing OK but it’s not the case for everyone. I’ve worked in the industry for 25 years and it’s really grim. I think some restaurants will close in the next few years and there will be a big problem with staff shortages and a lack of skilled chefs, especially those specialising in Indian or Bangladeshi food.”

The traditional pub restaurant

In the hope of attracting customers back to his pub, owner Marcus Coles spent nearly £30,000 on a new patio area. “In Wales we’re not allowed to eat inside restaurants, but we’re hoping we’ll be able to attract new customers,” said the 48-year-old.

Coles has run the White Hart Inn in Llanddarog, west Wales, also home to their family brewery, with his wife and brother for the past 28 years. He thinks people will take advantage of the scheme. “Everyone likes a bargain,” he said. “If we get more customers in, it will help the local economy and we’ll need more staff to work longer hours – it’s a win-win situation.

“Some people are fine going into supermarkets but not so much pubs and restaurants. I think people are still a bit scared. I’ve even had one customer say they thought the scheme was a scam so I think there needs to be more advertising.”

During the pandemic Coles and his family have been helping the NHS by repurposing expired beer. “We turned around 50,000 litres into 90% alcohol which was then sent off to Swansea to be turned into hand sanitiser. We were going to start making a new brand of rum but this seemed like a better use.

“I think business will be around 25% of what it normally is but we’ve been running for over 20 years and have a nest egg, so we’ll be OK. We’re mainly family-run so if things quieten down even more we’ll just tighten our belts.”

The vegan cafe

For Kay Jones in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, whose vegan cafe Roots and Fruits in Leeds has struggled since March, the scheme may encourage people but she is not sure. “Our takings are way down and there doesn’t seem to be much footfall in city centres,” said the 58-year-old. “We’re only opening on Mondays for now because anything more is unsustainable.”

Jones, who has owned the cafe in Leeds for seven years, says she will be using the discount to support other independent businesses. “We are on our knees financially and I haven’t paid this quarter’s rent. Normally we would take at least £1,500 over a weekend but since 4 July we’ve only made £300 over a Saturday and Sunday.

“It was fabulous to be able to furlough our 10 members of staff, many of whom are young, renting and need the money, but now it’s coming to an end I’m not sure staying open will be viable. I’m optimistic we’ll see some people visit but I think it will be regular customers rather than new ones.”

Jones has handed the day-to-day running of the cafe to her son but is looking at selling up. “I’ve used up all of the £10,000 local authority grant on rent and utilities. I used to be a lecturer and am living on my teacher’s pension. It’s such hard work running a business and I’m tired. I’m hoping by next month someone will buy it otherwise we’ll go bankrupt.”

The museum cafe

“There won’t be an incentive like this one again,” said Mo Suleman, 48, director of resources at the Derby Museums. “People will make the most of it but only those who are already going out and looking to get back to some kind of normality.”

The Coffee House at the Derby Museums, which opened in 2014, has changed its menu to make production simpler, offering food that is easy to eat without cutlery. “Current visitor numbers to the museums are down 80% so we’re hoping this will encourage people to visit and eat in our cafe for half the usual cost.

“I think this will help the economy and get people to realise that it’s not that bad. Restaurants and cafes like ours have spent a lot of money to be safe for staff and customers. Hopefully they will see this and come back again.”

The sustainable meat-free pizza residency

Rich Baker, 50s, and Sarah Brading, 30s, gave up their corporate jobs a year ago to set up Flat Earth Pizza, which operates out of The Plough pub in Hackney, east London. Baker feels the scheme will help them keep their doors open: “The restaurant industry is on its knees,” he said. “This scheme is a lifeline for building customer confidence and putting much-needed money back into our business.”

Their sustainable meat-free pizza using locally sourced produce is something Baker hopes people will venture out to taste in August. “I think it’s a good initiative as it gets people to try something new or perhaps go somewhere they previously couldn’t afford. It took me by surprise but it’s the minimum that needs to be done to help out the hospitality sector.

“Last week was a nightmare for us – it was absolutely dead. August and November are the worst months for restaurants so it would be great if the scheme continues until September or if Thursdays are added as eligible days.”

Baker and Brading took out a bounce-back loan – a government-backed initiative to support struggling businesses via high street lenders – and have added to their team. “There’s three of us now with one person working full-time in the kitchen,” said Baker. “They had previously lost their job so we’re glad to have been able to give them work. It’s paradoxical but we’re using this opportunity to grow. The scheme is a move in the right direction and anything that can be done is a good thing.”