It's safe to say that the Eat Out To Help Out scheme can be deemed a success in driving more people to dine out. So much so that many restaurants, such as Pizza Pilgrims and Prezzo, are extending the scheme into September, even though the government will no longer be splitting the bill.*

So how many people have visited a restaurant since lockdown?

According to Startle’s research, the amount of the UK population who have now visited a restaurant since lockdown ended is 31.4% (see graph 1), a significant x3 increase from the 10.4% of the population who had visited a restaurant in July.

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But how fun are they finding the experience?

The amount of fun restaurant goers are having has stayed the same, with no discernible difference between July (45.2%) and August (45.5%) as to the amount of people who find the experience less fun now than prior to lockdown. But overall, nearly half are still finding it less fun than before.

Of those who find the restaurant experience more fun now, the 45-54 age bracket seem to be enjoying it significantly less now, compared to the early post lockdown weeks. A quarter (23.3%) of those people surveyed in July who thought the experience was more fun than before were aged 45-54, but this figure drops to just 13.4% in August, with younger generations seeming to be the ones finding it more fun now. (see graph 2).

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Thoughts from our CEO, Adam Castleton:

"It's encouraging to see the number of people returning to restaurants increasing again, and that the restaurant sector appears to be delivering a consistent customer experience. I suspect Eat Out To Help Out discounts have influenced the enjoyment of the more price conscious generations - but hopefully it has gone a long way to get people out of their homes and change their behaviours. I'm very hopeful, but now that it has ended in the main, only time will tell."

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Surveys carried out July and August 2020. Sample sizes (n) >1000 people, UK Nat. Rep. with 95% confidence level & margin of error of +/- 5%.

*BBC News Website Article – Coronavirus: Restaurants extend discount dining into September. 27th August 2020.