Eat Out to Help Out: Crowds gather at restaurants on first day of government’s half-price dining scheme

‘It means I’m getting more of my team out of furlough,’ says manager

Diners have flocked to take advantage of half-price meals in restaurants on the first day of the government’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme, with queues forming outside some restaurants.

People waited in line outside eateries in places as far apart as London, Watford, Norwich, Warrington and Sheffield.

Restaurant managers and customers alike reported a busy day, and one figure showed that by 3pm on Monday, 19 per cent more people had visited shops and retail parks than the same time last week.

Although the figure, from the retail analyst Springboard, covers all shopping outlets, it will have included many of the cafes, pubs and restaurants signed up to the half-price scheme, The Guardian reported.

The 50 per cent discount, which is capped at £10 per person and does not apply to alcohol, is available at more than 70,000 outlets across the UK throughout August.

The scheme was launched by chancellor Rishi Sunak to encourage the public to resume indoor dining after the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions last month, to help the struggling restaurant industry.

The offer, which applies every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August, can be used as many times as you like, and on top of other offers and discounts.

Diners can find out on the government’s website which local restaurants – that had been closed since April – are taking part.

Almost 50 people queued outside Wagamama at Chapelfield in Norwich on Monday evening, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

One restaurant manager, Paul Cooke, tweeted: “Only day one but it was consistently busy and it means I’m getting more of my team out of furlough.”

Martin Higham, of Lancashire, said his local Italian was fully booked all night.

Other people reported restaurants had been packed.