Eat Out to Help Out boosts business

[14 August] The UK Government ‘Eat out to help out’ scheme to boost the hospitality sector has gotten off to a roaring start, with over 10.5 million claims in the first week. It’s the closest most of us will get to having dinner with Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnston, as the UK Treasury pays half the bill every Monday – Wednesday in August.

Footfall surges after 6pm

The scheme has led to an increase in footfall in town centres, with Springboard data showing a week on week increase of 7.2% in NI, one of the highest rates of growth in the UK. Across the UK, the number of people in shopping environments surged by 18.9% after 6pm last Monday compared with the previous week. Lunchtime visits were up by 9.6%.

While the scheme is obviously beneficial for generating immediate cash flow, and easing audience concerns about safety in eateries, there are critics who fear the scheme doesn’t go far enough and it leaves weekend footfall much lower. Additionally the hospitality trade is getting badly hit by no-shows; customers who book tables and fail to cancel or turn up. With significantly reduced capacity, maintaining a high volume of diners will be essential for long term success and empty tables will be detrimental.

Belfast cafe culture attracts visitors

Across NI, two-thirds are either planning to visit in the next month, or have visited, a hospitality venue e.g. bar or restaurant. Visitors to Belfast city centre have largely been for socialising or eating out, with 28% having coffee, 20% having drinks outside a bar, 29% dining inside a bar/restaurant (Exterion Media, Work.Shop.Play July 2020).