Nando’s, Prezzo and Wagamama: The restaurants offering £10 government discounts in August

Customers to be given discount off their food bills as part of scheme to boost economy

Major restaurant chains including Nando’s, Prezzo and Wagamama have signed up for the government’s new “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the scheme earlier this week to give diners discount off their bills during August.

“To get customers back into restaurants, cafes and pubs, and protect the 1.8 million people who work in them, I can announce today that, for the month of August, we will give everyone in the country an Eat Out to Help Out discount,” Mr Sunak said.

The scheme offers diners 50 per cent off meals, with the discount capping at £10 per head and includes food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Mr Sunak confirmed Wagamama’s involvement after announcing the initiative by sharing a photo of himself visiting a restaurant on Twitter.

“Great to pop down to @wagamama_uk after the statement today,” he wrote.

“They’ve already bought more than 2,000 staff back from furlough and will be one of the many restaurants to benefit from the VAT cut and ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ vouchers.”

Burger King boss Alasdair Murdoch has also said the chain should be taking part. Speaking on the BBC’s Coronavirus Newscast podcast, he said: “We’ll certainly be embracing it, as long as we can understand the terms and conditions and work them out.

“But I would think it’s extremely likely that we would do it.”

Italian chain Prezzo has signed up too, confirming that customers will be able to enjoy 50 percent off in its restaurants on social media.

“Thanks, Mr Chancellor! Did you hear the exciting news? The new ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ discount will get you all 50 per cent off up to the value of £10 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Prezzo restaurants next month. Roll on August!” the restaurant wrote on Twitter.

Kathryn Austin, chief people and marketing officer at Pizza Hut restaurants, recently commented on the scheme and confirmed that the chain will be offering its customers the government-backed discount.

“We’re delighted to start re-opening our restaurants across the UK this week,” she said.

“The new Eat Out to Help Out scheme, announced yesterday by Rishi Sunak, will also help us reunite guests with their Pizza Hut favourites and we look forward to updating everyone on how this will work once we receive further government guidance.”

According to the Mirror, Nando’s has also confirmed it will be registering with the scheme, as well as All Bar One, Burger King, Frankie and Benny’s, Harvester and Toby Carvery.

Other major restaurants are expected to take part in the scheme, which has been designed to bolster the UK’s £130bn hospitality industry, which is the country’s third largest employer and represents nine per cent of all the country’s jobs.

According to the government website, any business can register if the establishment sells food for immediate consumption on the premises, provides its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meals, and was registered as a food business with the relevant local authority on or before 7 July.

You can find more information about the discounts and how to claim them here.