Since Covid-19 hit, we have seen unprecedented support for both employees and the self-employed from the government. I’ve previously written about the airport and the difficulties it faces, and another significant local sector that has been hit terribly and accounts for many local businesses, is hospitality.
That’s why from Monday next week 3rd August, the ‘Eat out to help out’ scheme comes into being. It will run all day and evening for four weeks during August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It is designed to encourage our safe return to cafes, pubs and restaurants which are operating with new social distancing measures in place. The scheme is being used alongside other targeted help such as a cut in VAT for hospitality and tourism businesses.
The promotion gives you a discount of up to 50% when eating or drinking soft drinks in a participating restaurant or other food establishment. The maximum discount is £10 per person per visit when you eat or drink in. It is not available for takeaways.
You will need to ask or check online beforehand if the establishment is taking part in the scheme. Food and drink will appear on the menu at full price and then the restaurant will deduct the money off the bill, then they claim it back from the government.
Participating venues should offer the full 50% discount all day Monday to Wednesday across the whole food and soft drink menu. There's no minimum spend and you don't have to purchase food to be eligible, for example if only having a coffee that costs £2.50, it will cost £1.25 under the scheme. Likewise a full English breakfast for £6.00 and a coffee for £2.50 costing a total of £8.50, will cost you only £4.25.
I hope many Crawley food outlets take part in the scheme and I encourage Crawley residents to support our local hospitality sector by eating out. This year, it is much harder to go away on holiday this August so let’s enjoy the great hospitality that Crawley has to offer and try somewhere new as well as our favourite places.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
29th July 2020
