BARGAIN hunting diners have been pushing the Eat Out to Help Out discount to the max and saving hundreds of pounds by paying for courses separately – in the same restaurant.
“Several restaurants” reportedly told The Telegraph that hungry diners had asked to split the bill between courses to save, although most told the paper they’d declined to do so.
Bargain hunters have been asking to split the bill and pay for courses separately to boost Eat Out to Help Out savings
Trade body UK Hospitality also told The Telegraph it was aware of people using this loophole to boost savings.
Under Eat Out to Help Out, diners can get 50 per cent off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to £10 a head, if they dine in at participating restaurants from Mondays to Wednesdays in August.
So the most a family of six would save on a three-course meal at the same restaurant would be £60.
The government picks up the bill for this discount in a bid to boost the ailing hospitality sector.
But under this new loophole, the same table of six could theoretically save up to £180, as they’d could get up to £10 off each course.
Of course, to save this maximum figure that would mean they’d have to order a starter, main, and dessert each costing at least £20.
HM Treasury told The Telegraph this is allowed but encouraged diners to “respect the spirit” of the initiative.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, also warns diners to tell restaurants in advance of their plans rather than being left disappointed.
She told The Telegraph: “Asking to be billed separately for individual courses is not against the system. Businesses can claim back the money anyway, so, in theory, everybody benefits if the discount is applied that way.
“It might cause administrative headaches for some businesses, though. So, it is a good idea if customers talk to the business, ideally when they make their booking, to explain that’s how they want to be billed.”