LONDON: A British government scheme to encourage people to visit restaurants, by paying a slice of the bill, has boosted a sector devastated by the coronavirus, according to a study published on Monday. The incentive - "Eat Out to Help Out" - valid Monday to Wednesday through August sees the government contribute 50 percent of the cost of a cafe, restaurant or pub meal, up to £10 ($13, 11 euros) per person.
Analysis from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) shows that despite the pandemic it has helped to increase diner numbers by more than a quarter year-on-year.
In the first two weeks of August, the number of people who ate out on the scheme's active days leapt 26.9 percent, said the CEBR. It noted the month-long scheme, crafted by finance minister Rishi Sunak, would give Britain "a much-needed boost towards normality". Nina Skero, economist at CEBR, said it was "impossible to deny" that the initiative had been a success.
She noted it encouraged people to use restaurants while also helping people "get back into the habit of socialising", which could provide a broader economic benefit. However, despite the scheme providing a rare piece of good news for Britain's reeling economy, analysts have noted it could be impacting customer levels on days when it is not in operation.