The British Beer & Pub Association has called on the government to repeat the Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme.
The trade body made the plea as it cheered how much the Chancellor’s scheme has helped early week trade for a number of its members this month.
Eat Out to Help Out offers people a discount of up to 50% on Mondays to Wednesdays in August on food and soft drinks in a participating restaurant, pub or cafe. There is a maximum discount of £10 per head.
It is aimed at helping to boost the hospitality sector, most of which had to shut sites in March for the Covid-19 lockdown and could only reopen them from July 4.
The BBPA said the benefit of the scheme to the recovery of some pubs and the wider hospitality sector “has been immeasurable” in terms of securing jobs and building consumer confidence.
It added that repeating the scheme, particularly as the industry approaches typically quieter months for the trade post-Summer, would significantly help the sector.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, pointed out that ‘wet led’ pubs are not benefiting in the same way, “and so still need further support from the Government elsewhere”.
McClarkin added: “With the upcoming autumn budget and alcohol duty review, as well as the business rates review, this should be in the form of significant cuts to beer duty and business rates.”
