Today, Government has unveiled the rules for the ‘Eat out to help out’ promotion which Chancellor Rishi Sunak believed will help jumpstart the UK’s hospitality sector following the COVID19 Pandemic.
Government has announced the Eat-out scheme will apply only to business selling ‘food and/or non-alcoholic drink purchased for immediate consumption on-premises, up to a maximum discount of £10 per diner‘.
The scheme will apply to :
- restaurants
- cafés
- public houses that serve food
- hotel restaurants
- restaurants and cafes within tourist attractions, holiday sites and leisure facilities
- dining rooms within members’ clubs
- workplace and school canteens
The Eat out to help out scheme does not extend to hospitality businesses who sell takeaway food from vans (eg burger vans); Or to businesses who do not have an area specifically reserved for sit-down dining. In short, if the business has no permanent seated area they will not be able to take part in the scheme. The money will be refunded to businesses within a week.
The scheme will be available to use on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during August.
The eat-out scheme CAN be used on Trains that have a specific seated catering area, although the scheme can’t be used on a plane, as they do not have a specific seated area.
Eat out to help out is only valid for NON-ALCOHOLIC drinks.
HMRC also clarifies that the scheme is NOT valid to fold or drink sold as part of a B+B booking, wedding functions, private events or any situation where food and drink are sold as part of a wider catering service.
Surprisingly, Workplace and School canteens ARE on the lists of venues where the eat-out discount can be claimed; However, HMRC states the scheme does not cover food and drink that is paid for by the owner of the premises and supplied to employees or students for free.
You can read ALL the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ rules and regulations in full HERE (Government Website).
What do you think about the new rules and regulations? Will you be eating out to help out?
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