The Eat Out to Help Out scheme is celebrated by businesses in Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings

The Eat Out To Help scheme has been celebrated by many customers but has it had the desired effect on eateries?

Dozens of restaurants and eateries in Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings are taking part in the scheme, which was launched in a bid to boost the hospitality sector and offers a 50 per cent discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks to eat in.

While at first glance a half price scheme sounds like a great idea, naturally it has presented some flaws for businesses.

The half-price discount runs in participating restaurants in August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, this has left many eateries with a short fall in business towards the end of the week.

Kiernan Darnell, owner and chef at The Northwick Arms in Ketton, said: “The uptake has been very good - I don’t know whether that’s because of the warm weather or the offers.

“The weekend trade has suffered. Because of it people are only coming out once a week and come on the discounted days.

“There’s no normal pattern. I think if there’s no deal then there’s no incentive to come out on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.”

He added that there would not be a ‘correct’ set of days to have the deal on, as each business performs differently each day.

James Dodman, assistant manager at the Tobie Norris in Stamford, said: “Our weekends have been down with what we usually had before lockdown so it has relatively been the same.

“But I think it’s a good idea because it gets people back out, gets their confidence up and helps small businesses in towns.”

Now that the beginning of the week is busy, those wishing for a quiet night have been taken by surprise at the number of other people eating out.

“Before some people would come out because they knew it would be quiet but now some won’t come out on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday as they know it will be busy,” added James.

However, some business haven’t seen a change in the number of customers at the weekends.

Lily Weaver, operations manager at The Falcon Hotel in Uppingham, said: “The first couple of weeks being open before this we were slowly getting busier, then last week was when it really started to pick up.

“People still go out at the weekends regardless.

“It’s great as it brings more money in for us and for other businesses.”

Many businesses have been inundated with bookings as people come out to bag the best bargain.

Ryan Johnstone, front of house staff member at The Black Horse in Baston, said that a typical Monday in July would see about 10 bookings but since the scheme was introduced it has increased to 60 in a night.

He said: “It’s more or less balanced itself out but it doesn’t affect us as a business as we are claiming it back. It helps the customers out more.”

Jess Greatorex, manager at the Angel Hotel in Bourne, added that the Government ‘have got it right’ as it has helped the business get back to where they originally were before lockdown.

The scheme boosted business at the Grainstore Brewery in Oakham leaving it fully booked on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Peter Atkinson, director at the Grainstore Brewery, said that ‘the response has been phenomenal’.

He said: “Everyone loves a bargain but it seems a lot of people don’t actually know about it.

“A lot of people at lunch time don’t realise it’s available so it’s a positive surprise.”

Another element taking many customers by surprise is that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme does not include alcoholic drinks.

Peter said this has had a ‘negative affect’ on the amount of people purchasing alcoholic beverages while dining.

“We have had a few people a little bit grumpy that alcoholic drinks aren’t included,” he said.

Participating eateries were required to register to be part of the scheme so that the discount is automatically available for diners.

Kiernan hopes that people will remember the businesses who went the extra mile to sign up to the scheme.

“It should be remembered by the customers when the scheme goes away.

“There’s a huge amount of work and preparation behind the schemes,” he said.

“Working with the Government isn’t always the simplest thing so it would be nice if the public remember the ones which made an effort.”

For a list of the eateries in and around Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings which are taking part in the Eat Out to Help scheme, click here.

Up to Sunday night, 83,000 restaurants had registered with the scheme, making 22,000 claims for a total of £53.7m.