Call for local Eat Out scheme for Aberdeen

Four-fifths of businesses in Aberdeen would support an Eat Out to Help Out scheme for the city, according to a poll.

It comes as the hospitality sector in the city reopens after local lock down restrictions imposed to fight a coronavirus cluster were lifted after three weeks.

The Eat Out to Help Out initiative, which sees the cost of eat-in meals reduced for three days a week, began earlier this month and is due to finish at the end of August.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland surveyed around 50 Aberdeen traders. The poll indicates 84 per cent would support an extension to the scheme for the city.

FSB members said they have lost between £2,000 and £50,000 by not being able to benefit from the initiative.

The organisation is now lobbying for a local version to be introduced in the city.

An online petition sup - porting such a move has been signed more than 3,700 times.

David Groundwater, FSB’S development manager for Aberdeen, said: “Ab erdonians should be allowed to have a fair crack of the whip.”