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

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the Government to repeat its Eat Out to Help Out (EOTHO) 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 EOTHO, ‘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 BBPA, 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.”

She added: “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.”