RESTAURANT bosses in Colchester are looking forward to customers rushing back as they prepare to roll out half price food for hungry customers.

In a bid to get back to normality and fix the sinking economy, the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme aims to help businesses bounce back from lockdown, as well as help out members of the public who have suffered financially.

Dozens of eateries in Colchester have signed up to the scheme, which offers customers half price food, including The Old Siege House, in East Street.

Owner Darren Lisney hopes eateries will receive a welcome boost when the scheme launches on Monday.

He said: “We have got quite a few bookings already for Tuesday and Wednesday as we’re not open on Mondays.

“It is going to be a positive rather than a negative for businesses like us. It is good for us and good for the customers too.

“Some people might see the offer and decide to give businesses like ours a go so it is an opportunity for us to impress people and catch some new regular customers.”

Michelle Preston is manager of the historic Tymperleys cafe, in Trinity Street, which is also taking part in the scheme.

She said: “Any help from the Government is very welcome.

“People love a discount so we are expecting a lot of people to come out between Monday to Wednesday to eat with us.

“We have been busy since reopening anyway as we are lucky to have a big garden but this is definitely going to help massively.”

Ms Preston said she would like to think residents will focus their support around independents, despite the fact national chains like KFC and Nando’s are also signed up to take part.

She said: “People will hopefully support local businesses.

“We have been hit hardest by the crisis. We had no income during the three months we were closed for lockdown.

“The big chains are able to absorb things better, but it has been a huge struggle for us.”

Visit tax.service.gov.uk/eat-out-to-help-out/find-a-restaurant.

The Gazette is supporting local business. Find out how to get coverage by contacting zara.hynes@ newsquest. co.uk

Here is the full list of those taking part:

  • KFC Ardleigh, Unit 1, Colonels Place, Ipswich Road, Essex, CO4 9HB
  • McDonald's restaurants in High Street, Cuckoo Way, Tollgate and Cowdray Avenue
  • The Oak Tree Coffee House, Unit 4, Highwoods Square, Essex, CO4 9BB
  • Chefs Eating House LTD, Unit C5-C6, The Seedbed Centre Wyncolls Road, Essex, CO4 9HT
  • The Dragonfly Hotel, Old Ipswich Road, Ardleigh, Essex, CO7 7QY
  • Mimosa Restaurant, 706 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Essex, CO4 9YQ
  • Costa Coffee, Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Essex, CO4 5JL
  • Wivenhoe House Hotel Limited, Wivenhoe House Hotel, Wivenhoe Park, Essex, CO4 3FA
  • Greenstead Social Club, Blackthorn Avenue, Essex, CO4 3QD
  • Rose and Crown Hotel
  • Rollerworld Ltd, 13 Moorside, Essex, CO1 2TJ
  • The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie, 75 East Street, Essex, CO1 2TS
  • The Foresters Arms, The foresters arms, Castle road, Essex, Co1 1uw
  • Greyfriars Colchester, High Street, Essex, CO1 1UG
  • Putt in the Park, Castle Park, High St, CO1 1UG
  • Sip & Tuck, 67 High Street, Essex, CO1 1UE
  • Kimchi House, 2a, Queen Street, Essex, CO1 2PJ
  • Pavilion Lounge and Restaurant, 20-21, Middleborough, Essex, CO1 1QX
  • Wimpy, 112 High Street, Essex, CO1 1TB
  • Three Wise Monkeys Colchester, 60 High Street, Essex, CO1 1DN
  • Trotters Bar, 22 Middleborough, Essex, CO1 1QX
  • Preto, 59 High Street, Essex, CO1 1DH
  • Dice & A Slice ltd, 37 Queen Street, Essex, CO1 2PQ
  • Love Thy Burger, 58 High Street, Essex, CO1 1DH
  • Weston Business Centre, The Colchester Centre, Hawkins Rd, CO2 8JX
  • Triple TWo Coffee, 14-16, Long Wyre Street, Essex, CO1 1LH
  • Aburi restaurant LTD, 19 Short Wyre Street, Essex, CO1 1LN
  • Jacquelines tearoom, 14 Short Wyre Street, Essex, CO1 1LN
  • The Foresters Arms
  • L'Patisserie, 31 St. Botolphs Street, Essex, CO2 7EA
  • Muffin Break, Lion Walk Shopping Centre
  • Sons Way Limited, 45 Osborne Street, Essex, CO2 7DB
  • Caffe Sala Ltd, 5 Eld Lane, Essex, CO1 1LS
  • timbers cafe, 22 Trinity Street, Essex, CO1 1JN
  • Cafe21, 21 Trinity Street, Essex, CO1 1JN
  • The Purple Dog Pub, 42 Eld Lane, Essex, CO1 1LS
  • cafe med, 7A Trinity Street, Essex, CO1 1JN
  • Tymperleys Ltd, Trinity Street, Essex, CO1 1JN
  • Bellapais Restaurant Ltd, 7 Centurian House, St. Johns Street, Essex, CO2 7AH
  • Deja brew, 6 Sir Isaacs Walk, Essex, CO1 1JJ
  • Tea Rose Cafe, 10 Sir Isaacs Walk, Essex, CO1 1JJ
  • Kaykem Fast Foods Limited, 11b, High Street, Essex, CO1 1DA
  • KFC Colchester High Street, 10 High Street, Essex, CO1 1DA
  • RDM Food Ltd, 34 Sir Isaacs Walk, Essex, CO1 1JJ
  • Loofer's Food & Coffee Place, 1 Culver Street West, Essex, CO1 1JG
  • dough&co, 48 St. Johns Street, Essex, CO2 7AD
  • Taco Bell, 12-14 Head Street, Essex, CO1 1NY
  • Middletons Steakhouse & Grill Colchester, 19-20, North Hill, Essex, CO1 1DZ
  • Hudsons, 19 Head Street, Essex, CO1 1NX
  • The Green Room at The North Hill Hotel, 51 North Hill, Essex, CO1 1PY
  • Piccolo, 42 North Hill, Essex, CO1 1PY
  • Church Street Tavern, 3 Church Street, Essex, CO1 1NF
  • Feast Sandwiches and Buffets, 32 North Hill, Essex, CO1 1QR
  • Trotters Bar, 22 Middleborough, Essex, CO1 1QX
  • 67 Crouch Street, 67 Crouch Street, Essex, CO3 3EY
  • Mat's Kitchen, 65 Butt Road, Essex, CO3 3BZ
  • Britannia Gurkha Restaurant & Sport Bar, 42 Meyrick Crescent, Essex, CO2 7QY
  • Spinnaker , Hythe Quay, Essex, CO28JB
  • Pizza Hut Colchester South, Unit 17, The Maltings , United Kingdom, CO2 8FU
  • Colchester Kawasaki Race Cafe, 6 Commerce Way, Essex, CO2 8HH
  • the eat inn diner, 6a, Grange Way, Essex, CO2 8HG
  • CESSAC Community Cafe, Community Centre, Fallowfield Road, Essex, CO2 9ND
  • The Lexden Crown, 235 Lexden Road, Essex, CO3 4DA
  • The Live and Let Live, 12 Millers Lane, Stanway, Essex, CO3 0PS
  • KFC Stanway, KFC Unit 5, Stane Leisure Park, Stanway, Essex, CO3 8DD
  • Queens Head West Bergholt, Queens Road, West Bergholt, Essex, CO6 3HE
  • The Cricketers, The Cricketers, Spring Lane, Essex, CO3 9T
  • Raj Palace, 28 North Station Road, Colchester