A HAWORTH restaurant owner is continuing the Eat Out Help Out scheme out of his own pocket.

Peter Quinn will carry on the cheap-meal scheme at the Old Registry and Cobbles Guest House after the original Government-funded scheme ends.

He said the August-long scheme had been a roaring success at his eateries in Haworth’s historic heartland, with full bookings on midweek nights.

The scheme offered half-price meals and soft drinks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August to encourage people to return to eating out.

Peter and wife Leanne have run the Old Registry guest house and restaurant for about 10 years, at the bottom of Main Street, and last year took over the Cobbles on West Lane, which is managed by his mother Gill Newsholme.

Peter said: “The country was gripped by Eat Out Help Out fever and it has been excellent for us at both locations.

“We decided to extend the scheme for a further month until the end of September, offering the same discount of 50% off up to a maximum of £10 per person.”

The offer, which in September does not include drinks, covers the same days as the original government-backed offer, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Peter is calling on other restaurants in the Keighley area to follow his lead by continuing the cut-price offer on traditionally quiet weeknights.

Peter said various Government Covid-19 support schemes for businesses kept businesses afloat through the spring and summer. He reopened the Old Registry’s eight bedrooms a week after the lockdown ended.

He said: “We’ve caught the back end of the summer trade – since we opened up we’ve been full, and it’s still full during September.

“On Fridays and Saturdays our restaurant is always full. Thursdays were generally quieter, but it’s been busier than usual this time.

“The Cobbles has been really busy too. We’ve had nights where people have come to the door because they can’t find anywhere to eat in Haworth.”

In 2014 the Old Registry became the top place to eat in West Yorkshire on leading travel website, after beating 3764 other restaurants.

Peter and Leanne Quinn both worked for several years at Weavers restaurant in Haworth, before marrying and taking on their own premises.