Registration opens for government Eat Out to Help Out scheme

Registration has opened for restaurants to sign up to the government’s recently announced Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

The scheme aims to support more consumers to eat out in the recently reopened restaurant sector by offer 50% discounts, up to £10 per head, for diners’ food and non-alcoholic drinks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during August. The discount can then be claimed back from government.

There are no limits on how many times a customer can receive a discount during the period of the scheme, however, alcoholic drinks and takeaways are not covered.

In order for a business to be eligible for the scheme, it must:

• sell food for immediate consumption on the premises
• provide its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meals
• be registered as a food business with the relevant local authority on or before 7 July

Catering services for private functions, hotels offering food only as room service and mobile food trucks and solely takeaway establishments are among those ineligible for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Registration can be completed online, via the government website: Businesses will need to provide the following details:

• the Government Gateway ID and password for the business (or to create one upon registration)
• the name and address of each establishment to be registered – chains with over 25 locations can provide a link to a website which contains details of each establishment participating in the scheme including the trading name and address
• the UK bank account number and sort code for the business
• the address on the bank account for the business
• VAT registration number (if applicable)
• employer PAYE scheme reference number (if applicable)
• Corporation Tax or Self Assessment unique taxpayer reference

Further information on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and online forms to register with HMRC for the scheme can be found on the government website.