FACED with the immediate closure and uncertain future of pubs, restaurants and cafes five months ago, the public were forced to enjoy their favourite dining experiences from home.

Ambitious attempts of home-made sourdough loaves and tins of banana bread appeared all over social media as questions around the future of dining out began to appear.

To support the reopening of businesses after a successful first month of trading again the Government introduced its half price Eat Out To Help Out Scheme.

More than 35 million half-price meals were served by restaurants across the UK in the first two weeks of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Over 85,000 restaurants have signed up to the Government-backed scheme which reimburses them for half the price of meals eaten on location.

And the Government announced it has been landed with a £180m bill from the restaurants so far.

However there is the prospect restaurants face a midweek sales slump in September once the scheme ends.

There have also been claims in some areas that, while enjoying increased footfall at the start of the week, many businesses are struggling to fill tables towards the weekend.

But Tyne Valley business owners have said increasing the time frame of the half price scheme to continue to attract diners may be unsustainable.

The Hollybush Inn at Greenhaugh has experienced a roaring trade since they reopened after the lockdown with landlord John Thompson only acquiring the business last year.

Located in the heart of the North Tyne, John said the Government’s UK staycation appeal had meant he has never seen the local area so busy.

He said: “The Eat Out To Help Out Scheme is great and it’s helping in some areas massively, but some places are pulling out of the scheme because it’s too busy and affecting them a lot.

“The busiest inquiries we have had is for Eat Out To Help Out, but we are still having to turn people away on the other days.

“We can see a huge difference on our taking last year – they are way up.”

With Covid-19 health and safety measures in place the pub has placed a limit on the number of tables available.

“We look to serve quality food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere and we don’t want to tell people to go after an hour,” John added.

At the Coffee Tree cafe in Wylam owner Suzanne McNeil said working at a reduced capacity is affecting the businesses income despite the popularity of the dining scheme.

She said: “When we have got reduced capacity we’re not getting as much money through the door.”

Would the business be willing to extend the half price scheme beyond the August 31 deadline?

“I don’t feel as though I could offer the 50 per cent off,” she added, “but maybe half of that.

“I don’t think I could take a hit as we don’t have a massive profit margin.”

At the Hollybush, Mr Thompson agreed. He said: “We might look at something like specialist dining nights going forward.

“In normal times it would be good to carry on, but 50 per cent at a reduced capacity is not sustainable for us.”

Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman praised the scheme.

He said: “We want to get behind them, get back our hospitality, and really support them on an ongoing basis.”