'There is no reason why Northampton residents should not use Eat Out to Help Out scheme'

There is no reason why residents in Northampton should not take advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to the council and business owners.

The town may have been warned to strictly adhere to social distancing rules to avoid a potential local lockdown with coronavirus cases on the rise but people are still allowed to go about their semi-usual business.

That includes going out for dinner or for a coffee - as long as customers keep to two households indoors or groups of six or less outdoors while staying at least two metres apart.

A Northampton Borough Council spokesman said: “We are carrying out regular checks on hospitality establishments and investigating reported breaches.

“Each outlet should have Covid-19 secure arrangements in place for social distancing and sanitisation, which means there is no reason why people shouldn’t visit them.

"Each setting is expected to have carried out a risk assessment and made appropriate arrangements before reopening their doors.

“Our advice would be to check that these arrangements are in place before booking a visit and if anyone has concerns about anything they observe during their visit, they should report it to us so we can investigate.”

Customers can get half price food and non-alcoholic drinks up to a total value of £10 per person if they dine-in at participating restaurants, pubs, cafes, hotels and more on Mondays to Wednesdays from August 3 to 31.

More than 200 restaurants, cafes, pubs and others in Northampton borough and South Northamptonshire and Daventry districts have signed up.

One of those is the Caribbean DutchPot at The Press, which opened on Abington Square for the first time on July 10 after moving from a takeaway on Wellingborough Road just before the lockdown began.

The former pub has been transformed to an island paradise by owner Yvett Anderson and her team with plenty of room for diners both outside and inside.

Yvett said all of her staff wear masks and keep a safe distance from customers while all touching is reduced with the menu on an app and doors kept open.

The restauranteur said feedback from the public has been positive too and encouraged anyone worried about going out to get in touch to find out why it is safe.

When asked about the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, she said: "I think it's a great idea and will boost our own restaurant exposure.

"Monday to Wednesday are our quieter days so I think it's quite wise to do so why not take part."

The rise in positive Covid-19 cases in the borough has prompted the council to urge people to stick to the rules and get a test even if they have mild symptoms.

That does not mean people should be deterred from using the 50 per cent discount and supporting the hospitality industry.

Jodie Turner, who runs Number 50 Tearoom in Duston, said business has been up-and-down since reopening, with afternoon teas particularly popular.

She urged potential customers to book tables ahead to avoid disappointment and be patient with staff.

Jodie said: "People are more than safe to come out and eat or drink.

"Some may not understand that if they do not go out and spend money then places will close down as it's hard to keep a business afloat.

"Especially for smaller, independent businesses, it's really important people support those as they don't have big bank balances like others do."

Veysel Bor has been serving coffees and sandwiches at Square One Cafe on St James Road for 12 years and believes roughly 40 per cent of customers are worried to go out still.

Understandably business has not been like it was before the lockdown started in March, the cafe manager added, so he encouraged people to make the most of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

"People coming in for drinks and lunch pays the bills and rent so if people don't come then we can't pay our bills and we will have to close," he said.

Customers do not need a voucher to use the scheme, can use it at the same time as other offers and discounts and as many times as they like - there is no minimum spend.

Alcoholic drinks and service charges are excluded from the offer. For more information about Eat Out to Help Out, visit gov.uk/guidance/get-a-discount-with-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme.