August 2020
Featured in this insight: Central government & non-department public bodies, Food & drink, Local & regional government, Retail
Two-fifths of Britons are likely to use the Government's 'Eat Out to Help Out’ discount initiative before the end of August: A survey of British adults has found that 41% are either 'likely' or 'very likely' to use the Government’s Eat out to Help Out discount scheme before it closes at the end August, compared with a third of adults who said they were 'unlikely' to use it.
The scheme allows bars, cafes and restaurants to offer 50% off food and drink eaten 'in' on Mondays through to Wednesday, up to a maximum value of £10 per person.
Findings from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey survey for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), received 1,533 responses between August 12 and 16 and found that just 11% had used the initiative since it was put into force.
One of the reasons given for not wanting to use the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was the fear of Covid-19 – a response selected by more than half the respondents who are not planning to use it.
Data released by HM Treasury on 18 August showed that 85,000 restaurants have signed up to the scheme, with 48,000 claims made so far.
Research published a day earlier by OpenTable also found that restaurants have been 27% more full between Monday and Wednesday throughout August, compared with the same period last year.
While research by software provider, Fourth, revealed that in its opening week, the scheme resulted in a 50% increase in sales Monday – Wednesday, compared to the last week in July. In the second week, however, the survey found that sales did decline, with takings down 13% on the first week.
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