Some venues in Keswick and the surrounding area have opted not to take part in the Government-backed Eat Out to Help Out scheme because trade has picked up substantially post-lockdown.
The much heralded scheme was introduced to encourage people to dine out more and stimulate the economy. It began on Monday and runs throughout August.
People eating in participating venues can get up to £10 per person off their bill, Mondays to Wednesdays.
In Keswick and surrounding areas more than 50 eating establishments are taking part. However, several pubs, bars and restaurants have decided not to join the scheme.
The Oddfellows Arms in Main Street is one of those not participating.
Catherine Maloney, who has owned the pub for seven years with her husband, Carl, said: “The food is already well priced.
“There wouldn’t be enough to discount. The scheme is not very relevant to us, as the discount doesn’t apply to buying alcohol.”
She added that only two or three people had asked about the scheme and the pub had only had to remove a few tables to comply with social distancing measures.
Ben Gregg, owner of the newly-opened Crafty Baa on Bank Street, which is planning to start serving food soon, said the bar — which he co-owns with Vincent and Lisa Gregg — had planned to join the scheme, but decided on Monday that he would not be doing so.
“It is a great scheme, but just not for us. It’s not worth it in Keswick. It’s very busy anyway.
“The scheme is confusing with the till system and we would have to put a claim in with the Government — it’s more effort than it’s worth.”
But businesses taking part in the scheme said they were glad they had signed up.
Dagmara Cooper, general manager of the Pack Horse Inn, in Pack Horse Court, said the scheme had been successful in its first week.
She said: “We decided to take part for the public, it’s a chance to please everybody.
“Customer feedback around the scheme has been really lovely and customers are being even more friendly because of the virus.”
Karl Link, a partner and executive head chef at Morrel’s Restaurant, in Lake Road, said: “We are doing it because we thought everyone else was doing it and we didn’t want to be left out.
“We are hoping to get more customers in through it.”
Morell’s only opened as a daytime café three weeks ago.
He added: “In the first weeks we were feeling our way through. On Tuesday we noticed a big difference; it’s a lot busier.”
Karl said the restaurant had received more calls from people looking to book tables in the evening, although the restaurant is not part of the scheme in the evenings.
Karl said he had noticed many customers were not aware of the discount until they received their bill.
He added: “People have been asking: ‘Excuse me is that right?’ and: ‘Have you got that right?’ Maybe more than half our customers don’t know about the scheme yet.”
