The best Eat Out to Help Out offers: Costa to sell coffee for 32p throughout August

The concept of simply picking up a ‘coffee on the go’ still seems alien to us after more than three months of lockdown, but that’s exactly what the government is encouraging us to do.

Its Eat Out to Help Out scheme – which runs throughout August – means that restaurants can discount meals and drinks up to £10 per person by 50%.

Coffeehouse chain Costa has now confirmed it will be taking part in the scheme which is great news for coffee lovers, who can get their morning pick-me-up for a fraction of its usual cost.

Their filter coffee option which usually costs £1 will be starting at 32p.

Thousands of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs will be participating in the scheme next month in a bid to drum up customers after lockdown.

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The government has dedicated a section of its website to the scheme, which allows people to put in their postcode and find restaurants participating within a two mile radius.

It does come with some restrictions, though. The scheme only runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

At Costa, if you are in the market for something a bit fancier, a £2.70 flat white will now cost £1.06 on the selected days (you can get extra discounts by bringing in a reusable cup).

If a coffee isn’t going to cut it, then you can also pick up a croissant for just 59p while the offer is running.

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Nando’s is also serving up some pretty tempting offers. Customers will be able to pick up a quarter of Peri Peri chicken for just £1.85 in August.

If you’d prefer a full meal, you can get a quarter Peri Peri chicken and two sides for £3.38, instead of £7.75.

You have to eat in the restaurant to take part in the deal, though, as is the case with all the restaurants taking part in the scheme – the proof is in the name, after all, Eat Out to Help Out.

If you’re not up for eating out just yet, you’ll still find discounts on takeaways because of the current 5% VAT cut on “certain supplies of hospitality, hotel and holiday accommodation, and admissions to certain attractions”.

Industries which fall into the VAT cut relief system don’t have to pass on the savings to customers, though.

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The likes of Burger King, McDonald’s and Toby Carvery have all agreed to sign up to the scheme, with Toby Carvery dinners now costing as little as £5.50.

Other establishments, like Stonegate pubs, which have over 700 pubs up and down the country, will honour the offer. The brand has also chosen not to limit savings to £10 per person.

Wagamama, Oakman Inns, Pizza Hut and Frankie and Benny’s have also signed up to the scheme, with plenty of independent brands also taking advantage.