Eat Out to Help Out: How to get £10 off in pubs and restaurants

Food lovers could soon be able to grab a meal at some of the country’s best-loved restaurants for little more than £10.

Diners will receive a 50 per cent discount, up to a maximum of £10 per head, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the month of August, under Rishi Sunak‘s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme.

The diner discount, which will only apply to participating business, was announced today by the chancellor.

But penny-pinching Britons have already started to come up with ways to maximise their savings from the scheme, which covers food and non-alcoholic drinks, but not booze.

Diners will receive a 50 per cent discount, up to a maximum of £10 per head, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the month of August, under Rishi Sunak’s (pictured) ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme

The diner discount, which will only apply to participating business, was announced today by the chancellor (pictured: the receipt from Mr Sunak's visit to Wagamama visit today)

The diner discount, which will only apply to participating business, was announced today by the chancellor (pictured: the receipt from Mr Sunak’s visit to Wagamama visit today)

One Twitter user pointed out that Amex cardholders paying at an Amex UK Shop Small restaurant vendor could get £5 back on top of the £10 discount for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Others pointed out that diner’s could save more by eating less – or at cheaper restaurants – because the 50 per cent discount goes up to a maximum of £10 per head.

So if a meal costs £20, the diner will get £10 off, but if a meal costs £30, the diner will still only get £10 off. 

It means those who visit two restaurants and spend £20 each time can save £20, compared to one £40 dinner, which would result in a £10 saving. 

If grilled-chicken chain Nandos takes part, that means a £21.70 priced Full Platter, consisting of a full chicken and two large or four regular sized, would cost £11.70.

And with the platters meant for two people, it means dinners could pay less than £6 a head – if they are happy to forgo a non-alcoholic drink. 

As well as the Eat Out to Save Out deal, Mr Sunak also announced a cut VAT, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, for six months for the hospitality industry. 

If grilled-chicken chain Nandos takes part, that means a £21.70 priced Full Platter, consisting of a full chicken and two large or four regular sized, would cost £11.70

If grilled-chicken chain Nandos takes part, that means a £21.70 priced Full Platter, consisting of a full chicken and two large or four regular sized, would cost £11.70

He said it would apply to eat-in or hot takeaway food from restaurants, cafes and pubs, accommodation in hotels, B&Bs, campsites and caravan sites and attractions like cinemas, theme parks and zoos.

It is not clear how it will impact the prices in relation to the Eat Out to Save Out deal at this time.

With the Eat Out to Help Out deal, businesses will claim the money back from the Treasury, which is expected to spend £500million on the scheme.

Restaurants and pubs are expected to announce their involvement over the coming weeks. 

Those business that want to take part in the scheme will have to register through a website that opens on Monday.

The deal applies to restaurants, cafés, and pubs which apply to be part of the scheme.  

Today Mr Sunak hailed the £500million scheme a ‘creative’ solution to get the restaurant trade back on its feet – but the prospect of a half-price Nando’s was branded financial chicken feed compared to the support people were crying out for.

Within minutes of Mr Sunak wrapping up his address to MPs in the Commons, social media was flooded with reaction such as: ‘No worries if you can’t pay your rent, just copy a cheeky half-priced Nando’s on Monday.’

Many also said the Treasury’s bankrolling of meals was tantamount to reinventing Tastecard – the popular scheme which allows diners to enjoy bargain prices.

But the hospitality sector generally welcomed the announcement.  

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Chancellor said: ‘(This) measure I am announcing today has never been tried in the UK before.

‘This moment is unique. We need to be creative. So to get customers back into restaurants, cafes and pubs and protect the 1.8million 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.

‘Meals eaten at any participating business, Monday to Wednesday will be 50 per cent off up to a maximum discount of £10 per head for everyone, including children.

‘Businesses will need to register and can do so through a simple website open next Monday. Each week in August businesses can then claim the money back with the funds in their bank account within five working days.’