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Everything You Need to Know About Last Week in the London Restaurant World

After ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, restaurants are still wondering: What happens next?

BRITAIN-HEALTH-VIRUS-RETAIL-RESTAURANTS TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

As the government’s “Eat Out to Help Out” discount scheme came to an end on Bank Holiday Monday, autumn officially started: The beginning of a three month period in which restaurants and their employees are faced with the dual threats of rent and worker protections coming to an end. With few office workers and even fewer tourists back in the centre of London, social distancing still in place, and outdoor dining becoming less feasible, restaurants find themselves reacquainted with the myriad uncertainties onset by the coronavirus pandemic, left wondering: what happens next?


  • As ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ formally came to a close on Monday, more and more restaurants have contrived discounts of their own, which they hope will maintain footfall and momentum throughout September.

  • The total number of ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ meals claimed in August topped out at 100 million, with Monday, the final day of the scheme seeing restaurant covers rise by 216 percent on the equivalent day in 2019. Calling it a “success”, Chancellor Rishi Sunak reckoned it “had helped protect the livelihoods of the 1.8 million people working in the hospitality sector and drive the nation’s economic recovery from coronavirus.” For most in the restaurant world, they’re wondering what happens next, with employee and rent protections scheduled to end in the coming weeks.






As for where to eat...

Until next week, eat well and be safe.

The Dairy

15 The Pavement, , England SW4 0HY 020 7622 4165 Visit Website

Pollo Feliz

13-23 Westgate Street, , England E8 3RL 07479 478722 Visit Website

Vanilla Black

17-18 Took’s Court, , England EC4A 1LB 020 7242 2622 Visit Website