Councillor urges residents to eat out to help out once more

Pubs and restaurants have been unable to welcome customers to dine in for several months during the past year as part of national and regional lockdown measures to control the spread of Covid-19.

Last summer the Government introduced the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, which offered customers a 50 per cent discount on their food bill at participating venues on weekdays during August 2020, following the relaxation of the first lockdown.

But while the move led to a surge in bookings and customers it also proved controversial, with concerns that it may have led to a rise in Covid-19 infections.

Hospitality venues in Staffordshire started 2021 in lockdown, with only takeaway, delivery and drive through services allowed. From April they were able to welcome back customers to outdoor seating areas, before indoor drinking and dining was permitted once more from May 17.

Staffordshire County Council has been running a range of support schemes to help local businesses through the pandemic and restrictions, including grants, loans and incentives to boost training and apprenticeship opportunities.

At Thursday’s cabinet meeting councillors were given an update on the economic recovery programme – and one encouraged residents to play their part in helping hospitality firms bounce back.

Councillor Ian Parry, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “I think the delay from 21st (June) in taking the wraps off has an impact on those businesses that require physical volume to sustain them, whether they be hospitality or sports venues.

“It’s particularly those small or medium-sized businesses, independent businesses in Staffordshire that are taking a hit and may well not recover or take some time to recover due to the fact they cannot get the volumes the need to make their businesses sustainable and profitable.

“Back in August last year the Government announced Eat Out To Help Out – let’s go back to eat out to help out because I’ve been out a couple of times and quite easily get reservations and it’s quite easy to get into restaurants, diners and pubs. Even with social distancing they seem a little empty and you think we need to get out more.

“We need to help these hospitality venues as much as possible. At least we can perhaps put down the encouragement to Staffordshire folk to come out and help our small businesses to sustain them. Otherwise they will disappear and your favourite pubs, cafés and restaurants may not be there in six months’ time.

“We need to eat out to help out once again.”

Councillor Johnny McMahon, cabinet support member for public health and integrated care, said: “I agree entirely. But we’re not just helping small businesses, we’re helping ourselves because we are social animals.

“We’ve got to get back to doing what is natural to us, which is getting out there and living our life.”

Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet member for commercial Matters, runs a pub in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

He said: “I sincerely thank Mr Parry for his comments. He is right, I think we do need to get out. Not only to regenerate the local economy – it’s great for our mental health to get out and mix.

“We need to get back to our previous way of life – of course always making the consideration that I don’t think everything will be quite the same again. There is no room for complacency, carry on doing the right things but get out and support and enjoy the fantastic small businesses that we have in Staffordshire.

“Very sadly some local businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, haven’t survived and won’t survive. This is just dreadful, so I think the next phase is to move into that recovery phase where we will continue to work very closely with Staffordshire businesses to help them through.”