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24th August 2020

BBPA calls for Eat Out to Help Out Scheme to be repeated

Trade Association hails Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, which is due to end after August, as great success for food led pubs

More support still needed though for ‘wet led’ pubs who do not benefit 

 The British Beer & Pub Association, the leading trade association representing brewers and pubs, has today called on the Government to repeat its Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

The trade association has hailed the Scheme, which is set to end after August, as a great success for many of its member’s food led pubs, noting that it has boosted their Monday to Wednesday trade.

The benefit of the Scheme to the recovery of some pubs and the wider hospitality sector – amongst the largest employers in the UK – has been immeasurable in terms of securing jobs and building consumer confidence, according to the BBPA

It said repeating the scheme, particularly as we approach typically quieter months for the trade post-Summer, would significantly help the sector.

The trade association did note that although pubs serving food had greatly benefitted from the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, ‘wet led’ pubs – those who predominantly only serve drinks and bar snacks – are not benefitting from the Scheme in the same way and so still need further support from Government to help them.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: 

“The Government should definitely repeat the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

“It has provided a much-needed boost to sales in the early week for some of our sector as it tries to recover. That boost to the pub and wider hospitality sector – amongst the largest employers in the UK – is much needed and will help secure jobs and build consumer confidence.

“Repeating the scheme, particularly as we approach quieter months for trade, would be a significant help.

“However, it still remains the case that ‘wet led’ pubs – those who predominantly just serve drinks and bar snacks – don’t benefit from the Scheme and so still need further support from the Government elsewhere. With the upcoming Autumn Budget and Alcohol Duty Review, as well as the Business Rates Review, this should be in the form of significant cuts to Beer Duty and Business Rates.”

For more information, contact nlawrie@beerandpub.com