PUBS and restaurants in Herefordshire are hoping for a boost this month as the Government's new scheme to help the hospitality industry gets under way.

From Monday, people have been able to get 50 per cent off their bills at participating businesses across the UK, as the Chancellor aims to get people back out into restaurants following the coronavirus lockdown.

And while eateries have been able to open again since July 4 in England, not all reopened so soon. But now they hope the Eat Out To Help Out scheme will boost trade on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the offer applies.

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John Richardson owns the Burton Hotel in Mill Street in Kington, and since opening last week has found business to be slow as customers get confidence to eat out again.

"My first thought was that it [the scheme] was really clever," said Mr Richardson, 67, who has run the town centre hotel for 35 years.

Everyone has got into the habit of eating at home and drinking at home, people almost can't afford to eat and home with these prices.

"I though it was great, that will really help boost us and get us back started.

"We've had a very quiet start, we only opened on July 27 for the bar and food. Hopefully, this will really get us back to somewhere which is something we can keep the business viable."

Just over the Welsh border in Hay-on-Wye, pubs have had a different timeline to follow as restrictions differ under the Welsh Government.

Having been open for outside seating only from July 13, but finally were able to welcome customers back inside from Monday – the same day as Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Eat Out To Help Out scheme launched.

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