HELP TO EAT OUT IN A COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

As the UK heads into the autumn and faces further challenges with the cost-of-living crisis, a local business came up with an idea to help keep pennies in the pockets of local people, to help local hospitality thrive, and to help local businesses discover new opportunities in their local communities.

Eat Out Round About is a simple idea inspired by the original government Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, where people could eat out and discount their meal by 50% up to £10. The scheme helped the economy but was controversial at the time due to the pandemic. During the pandemic, Eat Out Round About was trialed in Wakefield and made a £6 return for every £1 invested in vouchers. Eat Out Round About is now expanding with eateries, businesses, and diners around West Yorkshire.

“We are now facing a cost-of-living crisis which naturally makes it more difficult to have the disposable income to afford eating out. Hospitality has already faced major difficulties through a pandemic and businesses need to find new ways to attract and retain staff and customers, and to develop more sustainable ways to do business. Eat Out Round About brings all these parts together to help local economies” says Ali Gordon, CEO at Eat Out Round About.

Eat Out Round About enables businesses to invest in their local communities by purchasing 50% off vouchers (giving a £10 discount) which drives the funding from the sale of vouchers into local hospitality. The venues on the app are then incentivised to source with local suppliers to help keep money spent locally inside local economies. Eat Out Round About has received backing at a national level with Innovate UK and has now attracted funding at a West Yorkshire level to help keep it free for businesses under 3 years old in West Yorkshire.

“We supported the scheme so that early start-ups, including local food and drinks producers, can benefit from marketing their business and supplying to the hospitality sector on Eat Out Round About. We are looking forward to learning more about how our contribution has circulated and multiplied in the local economy” Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.

Eat Out Round About is aiming for businesses across West Yorkshire (including Wakefield, Kirklees, Leeds, Bradford, and Calderdale) to benefit from their platform, and is launching a new free membership with a pay as you go service at their Innovation Supper event on Thursday 15th September. Furthermore, with the backing of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Eat Out Round About has fully funded membership subscriptions for early start ups under 3 years old.

Further event details can be found at https://yum.eatoutroundabout.co.uk/innovation-breakfast-lunch-and-supper and further details about Eat Out Round About can be found at www.eatoutroundabout.co.uk