Doncaster restaurants braced for September after August boom as town centre 'sees more visitors'

Lockdown had a grip on the town centre, as the country battened down the hatches to save lives.

Weeks after the Government decided it was safe for them to re-open, business has been booming as Doncaster’s diners embrace the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which has seen the Government subsidise customers' bills from Monday to Wednesday.

Today, restaurant bosses have told the Free Press how they have managed – and urged diners to stick with them after the scheme ends at the start of September.

While bosses have been pleased to see the surge in diners, some are concerned about what will happen next month, with the additional matter of the loss of the St Leger crowds potentially hitting demand.

But they also believe that the scheme has seen the number of visitors to the town centre surge.

Joseph Kandir, who runs the Movida restaurant on Priory Walk said: “It has been all right for us, and the Government scheme has helped. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been non-stop, right from 12.30pm until 11pm.

"It was not brilliant before that, but it was about getting people out into restaurants. We are at peak capacity, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays.

"You never know what’s to come, but hopefully people will come back in September after the scheme ends.

"But I do think the scheme has made a difference to the town centre – there seem to be more people about on Mondays to Wednesdays..

"We had 49 tables booked last night, and 15 walk-ins. During the rest of the week we are not back to pre-lockdown levels. We would urge people to continue to come out."

Colleague James Copley added: “A lot of people have said they’ve come here for the half price, but say they will be back because the food is good.”

A few yards up Priory Walk, mum and daughter Carol and Hannah Shekle, run Dreambakes, a deli and cafe.

They re-opened in July, and Carol said it was a busy month, supported by their regular customers.

Carol said: “People became more confident as the month went on, and we saw a steady stream of people coming back. Since we’ve been taking part in Eat Out to Help Out every table has been reserved. That’s been very busy, but we have still been supported on Thursday and Friday. We were concerned it may just move trade, but our fears were unfounded, and it’s certainly brought more people here, and customers who had not been here before.

"We don’t know what will happen in September, but September was quiet in the last two years. We think possibly people who are not going on holiday are spending their money locally. we’re optimistic, and we think our customers are confident that we don’t cut any corners on safety. We’ve had to remove tables for distancing, but takings don’t reflect that.”

At family run Cactus Jack’s, on Hall Gate, the chefs had been doing takeaways during lockdown to maintain an income for the business until it was able to re-open on July 4.

Manager Keiran Jones said after re-opening, there was a sudden influx of customers, but that quietened down by the end of July. He suspects that may have people getting ready for the Government’s scheme.

When the Eat Out to Help Out scheme kicked in, things changed.

"It’s been absolutely mad since August,” said Keiran. “Monday to Wednesday, we’ve been looking at 150 plus covers. We are probably three times as busy as we were pre-lockdown on those days.

"I think people have swiched to those nights, but there is still a steady stream of customers other nights.

"The first couple of weeks after re-opening was difficult as we got used to the new rules, but if feels easier now. We’re used to it.

"I think we have definitely seen more footfall in Doncaster town centre on Mondays to Wednesdays since the scheme came in.

"We don’t know what will happen next month – hopefully people will keep coming. There may be some decline, but hopefully nothing drastic. I would say to people come and support the local businesses at what has been a difficult time.”

On the opposite side of the road, Cerys Thompson, one of the managers at the Slug and Lettuce, said things had been busy since re-opening on July 4.

But she agreed things had been busier since the start August when the scheme arrived.

"It has been good to see people again after not seeing anyone for such a long time,” she said. “We used to have a 700 capacity. Now it’s just over 100. There are fewer people, so the atmosphere is different, but it’s still a good atmosphere, and it gets busy after 1pm for the food.

"We’re not worried about the scheme finishing, but it has definitely helped.”

Further up Hall Gate, the Poppadoms and Cream Indian restaurant was kept busy during lockdown with soaring demand for its takeaway delivery service.

Re-opening again early in July after a big refurbishment, owner Raheel Mahmood found business slow for sit down meals.

But Help Out to Eat Out brought in a lot of new customers.

"I’d spent a lot refurbishing, so when the scheme arrived it was brilliant,” he said. “We’ve been busy Monday to Wednesday, but then Friday, I had four people, and Saturday, 20, instead of 80 or 90.

"We have been doing deliveries throughout, keeping us busy as our bread and butter, and that has fallen when the offer is on.

"The other problem next month is that there will be no St Leger crowds this year – the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Leger week has always been brilliant.

"We will have to wait and see what happened next month. You can’t predict.”

He said the offer had shown people they could come out and eat safely, and urged residents to stick with dining out into next month and beyond.

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