Dining out scheme was a big success, says Caithness hotel owner
A CAITHNESS hotel owner says the Eat Out to Help Out scheme gave diners the confidence they needed to start returning to restaurants.
Andrew Mackay, of the Caithness Collection, described the month-long UK government promotion as "a big success" and he is hoping it can lead to a rise in the staycation market.
Thousands of outlets across Scotland, including many in Caithness, signed up for the scheme which was aimed at protecting jobs in the hospitality industry and encouraging people to safely return to dining out.
Restaurants, bars, cafés and other establishments that used the scheme offered a 50 per cent reduction, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to sit-in diners every Monday to Wednesday during August.
The Caithness Collection consists of the Pentland Hotel in Thurso, the Norseman in Wick and the Castletown Hotel. Mr Mackay said all three hotels had benefited from an increase in custom, and they had been able to offer reassurance to customers.
"I think it's a scheme that really has done what it says on the tin," Mr Mackay said today.
"It did bring a lot of people out that were very anxious. A lot of people were saying that it was their first time out [since lockdown], and we saw them a few times over the month.
"It has given them the confidence that it is safe to do so and that we all work within a Covid-19 safe working practice.
"It was a bigger success than I expected.
"It did distort the week, because there were more people coming on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After initially being caught a wee bit on the hop, we managed to put a structure in place so that it was a big success.
A lot of people were saying that it was their first time out, and we saw them a few times over the month.
"Hopefully they'll have the confidence to continue coming out and even venture on small staycations – so that maybe we can get some staycations coming our way. That's hopefully what one of the by-products of it will be."
Mr Mackay added: "There was talk that it could have been better later in the year, October or November, but I think to be honest it has been good to build the confidence early – I think that has been really important."
Eat Out to Help Out was announced in July by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
He said this week: “I want to say thank you to the diners who have fallen back in love with their local, to the managers who have spent weeks ensuring their restaurants were safe and to the chefs, waiters and waitresses across the country who have worked tirelessly, sometimes with more customers than they’ve ever had before – all helping to protect 1.8 million jobs in the hospitality sector.
“The scheme reminded us why we as a nation love dining out and I urge diners to maintain the momentum to help continue our economic recovery.”
Customers did not need a voucher as participating establishments removed the discount from their bill. Businesses were able to reclaim the discounted amount through an online service, supported by HM Revenue and Customs.