Eat Out to Help Out hailed huge success in Harrogate
Pubs, restaurants and cafes have benefit from the scheme throughout August.
The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been hailed a success across Harrogate and North Yorkshire, with pubs, bars and restaurants being able to offer 50% off food bills up to £10 per person every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August.
As a result, many eateries in the area are extending the scheme, including pub chain Provenance Inns.
They're doing it at their own expense for the time being, but hope the government will extend the scheme to the end of September.
Operations Manager Darren Noyland, said: "It's been fantastic. Ever since we first started it's built every single week.
"We need to make sure it's a viable thing to do as the cost is all down to us. We don't want to put the business in jeopardy with us extending it after having such a fantastic start.
"I think a lot of businesses still need the scheme. There's very few businesses that wouldn't want it to be an ongoing thing going forward. So, if it was available we'd definitely be one of the companies that would want to be a part of it."
He also added how the scheme has encouraged people to venture out for the first time, welcoming new diners to their restaurants.
He said: "Now they've had that opportunity to kind of come out with the incentive from the government, we've had people who've visited who haven't been out to eat since the start of lockdown. It's showing that each week we're getting new people out into the business as well."
Jaydene Halliday works at Plush Cafe in York, she said: "We've had people waiting outside, queuing to get in on a morning. We've had to grow the team quite quickly, getting new staff in and trained up while making sure customers are happy with our service.
"We've seen week by week more people coming to visit throughout the whole week, so it shows people are feeling safe to get back out there."