North-east eateries sign up to new scheme to offer similar Eat Out to Help Out discounts throughout October.
A number of producers and restaurants from across Scotland will today unite to unveil their own version of the government’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme.
Spearheaded by Barry Knight, director of food and drink procurement company, The Full Range, the initiative will incorporate every element of the supply chain to create lucrative deals for diners up and down the country at a pivotal time for the industry.
The UK Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, which offered 50% discounts up to £10 per person off in local eaterie,s was well received by venues across the country. Around 84,000 signed up to take part in August and a reported 64 million discounted meals were served in the first three weeks of the month alone.
Many venues continued to offer the discount, fitting the bill themselves, throughout September.
October initiative
Now, various north-east businesses including Kildrummy Inn in Alford, Banchory Lodge and Tor Na Coille in Banchory have all signed up to participate in Eat Out to Help Out October, with each offering up to 50% off up to £10 per person. Banchory Lodge will run the deal from Monday to Wednesday.
The new initiative comes one month after the government’s pioneering scheme ended. Used by diners more than 100 million times, the government’s original scheme generated more than £522 million in support for outlets UK-wide at a time of reduced consumer confidence and helped kickstart the hospitality industry post-lockdown.
Mr Knight said: “By leveraging our unique position in the marketplace, we have been able to negotiate a support package across a wide range of suppliers and manufacturers which allow our partner restaurants to run promotions throughout the month of October, in turn, encouraging diners to eat out and sustain footfall at a particularly vulnerable time for hospitality.
“As we approach the winter months, hospitality businesses need assistance once again which is why we have created our own version of the scheme. We have worked behind the scenes to generate additional support from a range of suppliers and manufacturers across Scotland, allowing outlets to offer their customers great deals which will help secure additional spend across the entire supply chain.”
It is hoped that the initiative – which will be open to both eat-in or takeaway outlets – will help areas that didn’t benefit first time round due to local lockdowns and take away businesses who were limited to which offers they could include in the deal.
‘Support our staff’
David Littlewood, chef/owner of Tor Na Coille and the Kildrummy Inn, said: “The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was instrumental in supporting our business as we reopened after lockdown. So much so that we continued the scheme throughout September – swallowing the costs ourselves – in order to continue to provide for guests and, most importantly, support our staff whose livelihoods are of paramount important to us.
“By working with our supplier partners through the ‘Eat Out to Help Out October’ scheme, we’re able to continue to support our staff, manufacturers and of course our customers by providing good value meals whilst benefiting every level of the supply chain at a pivotal time for the industry.”
Also looking forward to offering the reduced price opportunity for diners to take advantage of is Carol Fowler, director of Banchory Lodge.
She said: “Here at The Lodge it’s all about local produce and shouting about what fantastic suppliers we work with that make our menus so good. We felt it was really important to support the Full Range in this innovative promotion to support our customers and suppliers.
“This is not just an incentive to diners throughout October, it is an opportunity for you to help the hospitality industry and all our amazing local suppliers.”
To keep up-to-date on other participating restaurants signing up visit www.thefullrangeltd.com/eat-out.
