London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Coronavirus: Will the 'eat out to help out scheme' be extended?

Coronavirus: Will the 'eat out to help out scheme' be extended?

The "eat out to help out" scheme, which gives diners up to 50% off their bill, is due to end on Bank Holiday Monday (31 August).

Designed to boost the struggling hospitality industry, 64 million discounted meals were ordered during the first three weeks of the scheme.

The Treasury has resisted calls to extend the scheme but several restaurants say they will carry it on at their own expense.

Which restaurants say they will offer the discount for longer?


Chains pledging to continue offering some form of discount include:

* Pizza Pilgrims

* Tesco Café

* The Real Greek

Until 9 September:

* Harvester

* Toby Carvery

* Stonehouse Pizza

A longer list - including independent venues taking part by region

This is separate from the government scheme, so the discounts on offer may vary or change.

How has the Eat Out To Help Out scheme worked?


The UK-wide government promotion gives people up to 50% off when eating - or drinking soft drinks - in a participating restaurant or other food establishment.

The maximum discount is £10 per person.

It is valid all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August.

Food and drink appear on the menu at full price, but the restaurant takes the money off the bill before claiming it back from the government.




Can I eat and drink anything?


The discount is only on food and soft drinks that you intend to consume on the premises.

It does not apply to takeaways.

There is no limit on how many times you can use the discount, or for how many people, including children.

There's no minimum spend and you don't have to order food to be eligible. For example, a £3 coffee would cost £1.50 under the scheme.

The offer can be used in combination with any other promotions and discounts being offered by the venue.

Which food and drink places are taking part?


More than 83,000 businesses have signed up to the promotion. These include:

* Restaurants (including those in hotels, leisure centres and holiday parks)

* Cafes

* Bars and pubs that serve food

* Canteens

* Food halls with a seating area

* Members' clubs

Catering services, bed and breakfasts and mobile food vans are not eligible.



Lots of local independent pubs, restaurants and cafes have been taking part, as well as big chains.

To be eligible they must have a designated dining or drinking area, or access to one. They must have been registered with their local authority since at least 7 July 2020.

A search tool allows people to search for participating local venues within a five-mile radius.

The search tool may not include big chain restaurants taking part, a list of which can be found here. They include:

* Ask Italian

* Benugo

* Bill's

* Burger King

* Caffe Nero

* Costa Coffee

* Cote Brasserie

* Five Guys

* Franco Manca

* Giggling Squid

* Honest Burgers

* KFC

* Leon

* M&S Cafe

* McDonald's

* Nando's

* Pizza Express

* Prezzo

* Pret a Manger

* Starbucks

* Subway

* Turtle Bay

* Wagamama

* JD Wetherspoon

* Zizzi

What are the rules for eating out?


Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants can now reopen indoors, with guidance issued for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures they must take to keep customers and staff safe.

These include social distancing, controlled access to toilets and the option of ordering food on apps.

Hospitality venues must also collect and keep the details of at least one person in your party for 21 days. This is in case they are needed for contact tracing.

You do not have to provide your details, but bars and restaurants have the right to refuse you service.

Why was 'eat out to help out' introduced?


Hospitality is one of the UK's biggest employers and has been hit especially hard by lockdown. In April, 80% of venues closed, and 1.4 million hospitality workers have been placed on furlough at some point since then.

Some venues have been able to provide a takeaway service during lockdown. But this often means lower average spending per head and fewer people employed.



The scheme has been used alongside other targeted help, such as a cut in VAT for hospitality and tourism businesses.

Why has the scheme been criticised?


Several fast-food chains have taken part in the scheme, which has drawn criticism from some anti-obesity campaigners. The National Obesity Forum, for example, has said it was a ''green light to promote junk food''.

The discount scheme sits alongside the government's healthy eating plan that bans "buy one get one free" deals on unhealthy food, amid growing evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk from coronavirus.

When asked if the government was promoting mixed messages, Care Minister Helen Whately said under healthy eating plans, large chain restaurants will have to publish calorie breakdowns of their meals, helping diners to make an ''informed choice''.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×