Eat Out to Help Out is a win-win – Nick Cook

Nick Cook is reassured by restaurant safety measures after he and his wife went out for a meal to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
By Nick Cook
Published 20th Aug 2020, 12:30 BST
Throughout August, the British government will subsidise a 50 per cent discount of up to £10 a head on meals and non-alcoholic drinks at participating establishments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in a bid to encourage the public to eat out after months in lockdown. (Picture: John Devlin)Throughout August, the British government will subsidise a 50 per cent discount of up to £10 a head on meals and non-alcoholic drinks at participating establishments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in a bid to encourage the public to eat out after months in lockdown. (Picture: John Devlin)
Throughout August, the British government will subsidise a 50 per cent discount of up to £10 a head on meals and non-alcoholic drinks at participating establishments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in a bid to encourage the public to eat out after months in lockdown. (Picture: John Devlin)

As countless parents of toddlers will know, a meal out with your spouse can be something of a rarity.

Fortunately, Mrs Cook and I managed such an occasion at the start of this week, in celebration of our wedding anniversary.

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As countless tweed and chino-sporting Tory colleagues will tell you, I’ve never been one to conform to stereotypes. Yet, I’m more than happy on this occasion to play the role of penny-pinching Scotsman.

I’ll admit that we took full advantage of UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, which saw a welcome 50 per cent taken off our bill.

I make no apologies for my belief that it can only ever be positive to have government enable individuals to keep a little extra in their pocket.

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But crucially, the primary beneficiaries of the scheme are the 1.8 million UK chefs, waiters, pub owners and restaurateurs reliant on continued customer demand to earn their living in these most challenging of economic times.

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With the absence of the 2020 summer festivals, it is more important than ever that those able to take advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme do so to help ensure our Capital’s restaurants, cafes and eateries remain a vital ingredient in our cultural offering.

There will be those who still view a return to sit-in dining with some trepidation. Reassuringly, it appears thus far that the vast majority of premises look to have taken a thorough approach to implementing necessary safety measures.

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme is running throughout the month of August. You can find details of participating eateries in Edinburgh and Lothian on the UK Government website.

Nick Cook is a Conservative councillor for the Morningside ward

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Related topics:Rishi SunakScotsmanEdinburgh

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