Government to offer 50% off discounts on eating out in August - MSE News

molerat

A lot of the big chains certainly seem to be going against the spirit of the deal.  In many cases it is more expensive with the 50% off than their previous own offers.  A couple of my local small eateries are still using their own discount schemes, such as 60+ 12% off on Wednesday, on top of the 50%.

bittencookie

KFC said there was a minimum order of £10 to get the discount. Gov site says no minimum order. Ended up having to get more food than I wanted to get the discount, which wasn't very money-saving, but I was flustered! Also forgot to use the app to get my stamp  

james72

It's not just the big chains taken their offers away - which is naughty as they get paid either way, this was to help them and they have been greedy. Which is fine, but just makes me decide to not visit them. But if they are full Mon-Wed then that won't bother them

But also the problem for this scheme, is that many of the restaurants of venues that do have offers that run with this scheme [double stack deals] Prezzo/Pizza Express/and some others I checked out - the vast majority, if not all of their restaurants are not open.

In facts for some of them - it could be seen as spoiler tactics to say your deals stack, but then not be open. As it just highlights that the other restaurants [that are open] are not upholding the spirit of the governments offer to help them out.   

warby68

We enjoyed a meal at a favourite local independent last night.
Normal menus, straight £10 per head off.
The owner/chef was knackered but joyful seeing his place full as it could be on a Tuesday night and said its a pretty straightforward scheme to use. He believes it will be a genuine boost for them. I sincerely hope so. Its a family business and we caught them smiling at each other as they rushed around - it was lovely.
If you are a tipper, remember to tip based on the pre-discount price - not money saving, but feels like the right thing to do if you tip, otherwise staff will get a lower cut ( don't mean to start a tipping debate - I know many don't like it but if you do just a thought)
I don't really use the big chains - the ones that are overpriced where it only makes sense to eat on a deal are looking a bit cynical removing them. 
Another chef friend has nicknamed it  Tap Water Tuesday as it will bring out the skinflints. Some people don't get it - its Eat Out to Help Out - ie help out the trade not strip it to the bone for yourselves. Win/win is possible too. I think there is a bit of conflict with the money saving ethos on this site but I'd much rather my favourite places survived. 

sallyking186

I went out to a chef and brewer pub on Monday evening and had the 50% off but I tried to pay with tesco clubcard vouchers and they wouldn't let me so had to pay cash is that right?

MTwallet_2

The Hungry Horse chain (Greene King) is taking part in the scheme but their usual Daily Deals do not apply. It doesn't say that on their website or in the pub I visted. For example the Tuesday Daily Deal is selected big plates for £6 each, two meals £12.

Under the Eat Out to Help Out scheme the same meal is now full price on a Tuesday £10.29, two meals £20.58 less 50% making £10.29. Just giving a heads up so that customers know before they go, it might affect what meal you select from the menu.

bazwaldo

sallyking186 said:

I went out to a chef and brewer pub on Monday evening and had the 50% off but I tried to pay with tesco clubcard vouchers and they wouldn't let me so had to pay cash is that right?

Hmm, bit of a funny one this, i was about to say it is stated on the Tesco clubcard website, that you cant use them , Mon, Tues, Wed in August, as i know that is the case for Hungry Horse pubs, having just obtained some of them with my vouchers. However, when checking tesco site, this is what it says for C&B......

Chef & Brewer is participating in the Eat Out to Help Out promotion. During August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 31st August, customers can receive a 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks.

If you’d like to use your Clubcard vouchers at the same as receiving the Eat Out to Help Out discount, your Clubcard vouchers must be presented when asking for the bill.

For full terms and conditions and to book your table visit www.chefandbrewer.com

The eat out to help out terms and conditions at C&B, don't mention Tesco vouchers.

This to me, indicates that you should be able to use them. I would send in a strongly worded complaint email to C&B and Tesco.

.

Takmon

Paul_Herring said:

Well i don't think being given a 50% discount in replacement of a 10% discount would make people less likely to eat out.

Knowing that the business is clawing back the (up to a) tenner from the government, and the withdrawn 10% from the customer, will probably make regulars of the establishment less likely to visit in future however.

Well considering that the cost of operating a restaurant has increased due to the extra cleaning and reduced capacity by spacing out the tables then i wouldn't really blame them if they actually increased prices. You also need to consider they have also had to be closed for months so any extra money they can make now can only help. 

If the restaurant offers good and friendly service with good food and people decide they are less likely to go just because the restaurant is trying to make a bit of extra money to actually survive then that's a pretty poor attitude to have in my opinion. 

barhug

Does the offer include meals eaten on the cafe's tables outside??  Much better for avoiding Covid-19

Paul_Herring

Does the offer include meals eaten on the cafe's tables outside??

Given a few people have mentioned take-away sandwich joints running the scheme, I see no reason (presuming, of course, that they're participating  in the scheme on meals eaten inside) why they wouldn't.

Unless the owner, for whatever reason decides not to...