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Eat Out To Help Out: Restaurants still offering discounts in September
The government scheme may have ended, but plenty of restaurants are offering deals to diners into September and beyond
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After restaurants and pubs reopened their doors with new safety measures in place on 4 July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme was announced to encourage diners to dine in.
It was hoped the scheme would boost the economy, offering people the chance to enjoy up to £10 off their meals if they ate out at a participating restaurant on Monday to Wednesday in August.
The owners of the restaurant, cafe or pub could then claim back the discounts from the government.
Data from booking app OpenTable shows it was a huge success with restaurants on average 27 per cent more full on Monday to Wednesday in the first two weeks of August than they were in August 2019.
The latest data available showed that 35 million half-price meals had been claimed by 18 August.
Eat Out to Help Out ended officially on Monday 31 August, but with government support off the table, many restaurant groups and independents have taken it into their own hands to offer deals to tempt customers through their doors.
Many outlets are now offering the same discount or new initiatives to weekday diners to tempt them to visit.
Here are nine restaurants and chains offering major discounts throughout September in the UK.
London
Kahani, Kensington
Top Indian restaurant Kahani is extending the terms of Eat Out To Help Out throughout September and will also include Thursdays in the deal.
"Not everyone (like ourselves) could open at the drop of a hat, we needed to ensure the safety of not just customers but our staff too, so we only re-opened [earlier this month]", says Chef Patron Peter Joseph of the decision to extend the offer.
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, various locations
Fresh pasta trattoria Emilia’s is extending the EOTHO scheme for their Aldgate and St Katherine's Dock sites, with 50 per cent off pasta dishes from Monday to Wednesday for the month of September.
“August was the first stepping stone to securing the future of the restaurant industry. Next, [as offices are scheduled to reopen from] September, we feel it’s our turn to give back to our guests”, says owner Andrew Macleod.
Ibérica, various locations
The Spanish tapas chain is continuing to offer 50 pre cent off food bills from Monday to Wednesday throughout September. Book directly through the restauarnt and quote KEEP EATING OUT to receive the discount.
Top Cuvée, Finsbury Park
Neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar Top Cuvee are extending their discount into September on its simple, seasonal menu. A 25 per cent discount will be applied to food on Wednesdays
Benares, Mayfair
Indian-British restaurant Benares will offer the same discount as the Eat Out To Help Out scheme from Tuesday to Thursdays throughout September. Diners can choose from its à la carte or new tasting menus by Executive Chef Sameer Taneja.
The restaurant also has four private rooms which can be hired for more intimate events for up to 16 people – seated to suit distancing measures.
Sticky Mango, Waterloo
Modern South Asian restaurant is giving diners the chance to enjoy the same offer of up to £10 off food and soft drinks until the end of September, Monday to Wednesday.
Kanishka, Mayfair
Diners can continue to enjoy a Michelin star experience at Eat Out To Help Out prices at Indian restaurant, Kanisha. The same offer runs until end of September on its lunch and dinner menu.
Norma, Fitzrovia
The Sicilian-inspired hotspot on Charlotte Street is offering a £10 pasta deal Monday to Thursday throughout September. The regularly rotating special will contain Sicilian ingredients and seasonal flavours, with the deal saving customers up to £14.
“It’s been brilliant to see Norma so busy at the start of the week, so we wanted to introduce a new initiative to keep the momentum going throughout September and onwards”, says Ben Tish, Culinary Director.
Three Cheers Pub Co, various locations
The boutique collection of nine cosy pubs will continue to offer the same discount as the government’s scheme by using its own funds in September. Venues include the Bedford in Balham and The Avalon in Clapham.
Tom Peake, owner and co-founder of Three Cheers Pub Co, said: “By doubling the period of the offer, and subsiding the discount out of our own pockets, we hope to be able to see more of our lovely customers back, even more often. We’ve missed them!”
Kricket, Soho, White City, Brixton
Fans of the modern Indian concept at Kricket can continue to enjoy its food menu for half price for the rest of the year on Mondays – with no cap on spending.
Homeslice, various locations
Lowkey favourite Homeslice will continue to offer half price on its pizza pies Monday to Wednesday throughout September. That means you could pick up a 20-inch pizza for a tenner.
Rest of the UK
Prana, Cambridge
Indian restaurant Prana are offering a charitable slant on the Eat Out scheme by offering £5 off every meal, and matching the amount with a charity donation to those in need.
Peru Perdu, Manchester
Vibrant Peruvian restaurant Peru Perdu is extending the terms of Eat Out To Help Out into September, with 50 per cent off the whole menu and soft drinks.
“We we’re overwhelmed by the response to the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme and the support we’ve seen from our loyal guests”, says Jennifer Hughes, brand manager.
“We’ve built up great momentum and wanted to continue to give back to our following, therefore extending the offer seemed like the perfect solution to us.”
Q Hotels Group, various locations
The hotel group, which has 21 venues across the UK, is continuing the scheme from Monday to Wednesday, all the way up until 30 November.
Its Gin Afternoon Tea has been the most popular dining experience throughout August with a 113 per cent increase in bookings, and expected to remain a favourite with discount-seeking diners.
The Coconut Tree, Cardiff, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol and Bournemouth
Sri Lankan bar and restaurant group The Coconut Tree will also continue with an extension to the Monday to Wednesday deal to the end of September. However, the £10 limit will be removed, allowing customers to sample more of its street food inspired menu.
In October the 50 per cent discount will be stripped back and offered on food and soft drinks at lunchtimes only.
Bill’s, various locations
Bill’s has announced it is extending its Eat Out to Help Out scheme, offering customers 50 per cent off meals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout September.
The restaurant chain will be presenting patrons with a bespoke menu, while also offering guests the chance to have one course for £10 and two courses for £14.50 when dining from the set menu.
Toby Carvery and Harvester, various locations
Both Toby Carvery and the Harvester chains have promised the extend the Eat Out To Help Out scheme for an extra two weeks.
Both brands are owned by Mitchells & Butler, and are offering the same promotional deal of half price mains until 9 September.
This means you can get an unlimited carvery meal for £3.65.
Pizza Hut, various locations
Pizza Hut will be doing two for one on mains Monday to Wednesday from 7 September - but only if you're signed up to their newsletter.
Sign up to the newsletter here.
Hall & Woodhouse pubs, various locations in the South of England
The pub group is offering the same terms as the Eat Out To Help Out scheme on its traditional fare until Wednesday 30 September.
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