By Eat Out To Help Out could return after lockdown
The ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, which offered major restaurant discounts last summer, could be set to return after lockdown.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a return of the initiative in a bid to boost the nations hospitality economy.
He is set to announce a number of new financial measures as part of next week’s budget statement.
The Chancellor is also being urged to give away up to £9bn in High Street vouchers, allocating every adult £150 and every child £75 each, to boost the retail sector.
A report by Lancs Live states:
“These vouchers could be spent in physical non-food retail, where there is more likelihood that consumption is likely to rebound slower than in other services such as pubs and restaurants.
“This is likely to be the case, with more survey respondents reporting plans to increase their spending in restaurants and pubs after the pandemic, rather than decrease spending.
“But roughly equal proportions of respondents suggested they would increase or decrease their spending on clothes and other retail.
“This temporary voucher scheme would slow but not halt the longer-term trend towards online retail.”
The price of alcohol in pubs and restaurants may also be cut, and the Chancellor could scrap the planned 5p increase in the cost of petrol and diesel.
