'It was all very successful': Eat Out to Help Out scheme praised for giving Northampton restaurant bumper August

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme was praised by a Northampton restaurant owner after having a better August than last year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The government discount come to an end yesterday (Monday, August 31) after more than 64 million meals, worth over £336 million, were claimed nationally.

Balti Central sold an extra 500 covers thanks to the scheme and manager Abdul Ali said the spreading-out of demand over the week helped to deal with takeaway orders at the weekend.

"The scheme was quite a success in terms of bringing people out as it generated interest and lots of people who don't normally come out to eat came out as well as people who normally do," he said.

"So it's been good for our business if you compare it to the lockdown period."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak's plan to support the hospitality industry after the coronavirus lockdown meant customers could get half price food and soft drinks up to the value of £20 per person on Mondays to Wednesdays from August 3 to 31.

'Going for a Rishi', as it became known, meant takings at Balti Central on Marefair were significantly higher than July and allowed them to bring staff off furlough.

Abdul said people who often came on Fridays and Saturdays were going out earlier in the week which meant less pressure on the weekends than they are used to.

"Those three days the scheme was on were like weekends so we basically had five weekend days a week, although fewer people came on the actual weekends," he said.

Like restaurants, cafes were eligible for Eat Out to Help Out with customers able to have lunch or a coffee and cake for half price.

The tea room at Vintage Retreat saw a similar amount of sales last month compared to 2019 - moreover, part-owner Andy Wagstaff said it caused a huge shift in their perception.

"It was all very successful, it was a bit slow at the start but after the first week it really picked up," he said.

"Usually we have people visit the shop and come to the tearoom as an added extra but more people were coming just to us when the offer was on."

Vintage Retreat and the tea room at Northampton Business Park on Lower Harding Street closed in March because of the pandemic - they did not do takeaways during lockdown so it was a completely fresh start in July.

Andy said Eat Out to Help Out did give them a boost and showed people that it is safe to venture out and support the economy while sticking to the guidelines.

"It was pretty slow in July until the scheme came along and if they were to bring it back that would be great as it's the first day without it and I've noticed a difference," he said yesterday (Tuesday).

Like Andy, Abdul is worried the effect of the scheme ending, with some places pledging to continue it through September - something the curry house manager cannot afford.

"We don't know what will happen, we'll look this weekend and next week to see how much demand will drop," he said.

"I can't afford to keep doing it and I understand that the government can't keep paying for people's meals as the money has to come from somewhere."