LOCAL eateries have reported booming business, with customers making the most of the government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme. Now the scheme has ended, local businesses are urging people to continue to eat out safely.
The post lockdown initiative allowed diners who were eating in to get a 50% discount on food every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until the end of August. Local pubs, cafes and restaurants have reported an excellent take-up of the scheme.
Bob Musker from the Horse and Groom said, “It’s been going brilliantly – along with our regular customers we have had a lot of new faces in, so it’s a great opportunity to showcase what we do. We’ve had really positive feedback.”
The pub limited booking numbers and followed strict procedures to keep everyone safe.
“The staff have done very well, and we’ve got more staff in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” said Bob. “We’ve still been busy on the other days, so it’s been a top up.
“It’s been difficult in the kitchen because we can’t have as many staff in there, but everyone’s done really well with their Covid training.”
Bob added they are working on another offer for September and October.
Lyn Hobbs, from The Rising Sun, North Bradley, said, “It’s been very successful, we’ve had lots of new faces trying it out. We only opened at the end of October, then it was Christmas and people already had bookings elsewhere, then January when no-one really goes out, and then we went into lockdown really. We’ve been really busy and have had to turn people away, which we really don’t want to do!”
“Extra staff have been taken on to meet the demand and they have done really well with the training.
“We are working around what the staff and customers want – if someone looks like they are not sure we say go and sit down and we will bring your drinks over to the table.”
Customers had been booking again to come back week on week, and Lynn added. “Hopefully it will continue.
Kunyanut Worapaphakul from Thai Orchid told White Horse News, “We have been fully booked Monday to Wednesday with new and regular customers.
“We’ve had to work extra hours and have all the procedures in place.”
