As the Eat Out To Help Out scheme comes to an end today, its success has led some local restaurants to extend it at their own expense.
The scheme has allowed restaurants and cafes to boost their profits after being forced to close during lockdown.
Restaurants in the district extending the scheme include:
- Bambudda Oriental Cuisine, Kirkgate, Ripon – £5 off ‘All you can eat’ buffet Monday and Wednesday.
- Blue Bell Inn at Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge – Two-course meal £10 and three-course meal for £15 on Wednesday and Thursday.
- The Pine Marten, Otley Road, Harrogate – 50% off mains, Monday-Wednesday until mid-September, when subscribed to mailing list
- Graveley’s of Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
- Gino d’Acampo My Restaurant, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
- La Feria, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
- Lucia Wine Bar and Grill, Ripon Road, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks, Monday-Wednesday, until the end of September
- Starbeck Tandoori, Starbeck – 50% off food up to £10 Monday – Thursday, until the end of September.
- The Empress on the Stray, Church Square, Harrogate – 25% off food Monday – Wednesday until the end of September.
- The Grantham Arms, Boroughbridge – 50% off up to £5 per person, Monday – Wednesday, until the end of September.
- West Park Hotel, Harrogate – 50% off food up to £10 until Wednesday, September 2.
Customers should contact the restaurant regarding the offer prior to booking.
Simon Wade, owner of The Grantham Arms in Boroughbridge, said:
“It’s been phenomenal – it’s been like having a six-day weekend. We’ve had to bring in new suppliers as many just didn’t realise it would be this busy.
“In terms of money, we lost £250,000 of turnover during lockdown. The scheme has drastically increased our turnover but we have had to employ more staff.
“We are introducing our own scheme – I just think we can’t not piggy back on the back of something so successful. We know everyone loves a bargain and I am pleased to offer it.”
Both restaurants are extending the scheme in order to capitalise the surge in bookings it has encouraged.
The owner of The Empress on the Stray, Sharon Colgan, said:
“Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August have been a real success changing people’s perspective on early-week dining. We are hopeful it will continue through September and we will look at possibly extending until the end of the year if it continues to be a success.”
Read more:
- WATCH as restaurants in the district are busy following government discount scheme.
- Harrogate’s restaurants say they are fully booked for the final week of Eat Out To Help Out.
The West Park Hotel is extending the scheme in celebration of its owner Provenance’s 10th anniversary.
Anthony Blundell, assistant general manager, said:
“It has gone incredibly well – it’s been like having Saturdays at the beginning of the week. Lunch and dinners have been much busier, we’ve had to take on more staff to cover demand.
“We’ve had a lot of people who may not have come before the scheme. We saw a high increase in sales, 120 at night and 60 to 80 diners for lunch, whereas before it was around 20. We lost three months of sales and had renovations so it’s good to start paying that back.
“Extending the discount is a great thing and it gives people who missed out the chance to give it a go.”
