Here’s a tip for all you 50% off diners out there: please be kind to the waiting staff – Hayley Matthews

For months now (all because of the lockdown) we’ve not gone anywhere with the kids for dinner.
The Monday-Wednesday cut price dining deal  is a great incentive to get out and spend (Picture: John Devlin)The Monday-Wednesday cut price dining deal  is a great incentive to get out and spend (Picture: John Devlin)
The Monday-Wednesday cut price dining deal is a great incentive to get out and spend (Picture: John Devlin)

When I say dinner, I use the term very loosely. Think more scraping chips off the floor, begging them to be quiet and eat and all whilst wiping beans off the iPad because, well, our chat is awful apparently.

It can be quite a stressful situation having dinner with kids who are running about screaming but it’s just quite nice sometimes to not have to clean up any mess off the floor. We never really go out a lot as a family anyway. However, since the lockdown it’s been very intense with us all on top of each other as I’m sure it has been for the majority of people, unless you’re lucky enough to be living in a four-bedroom house with good soundproofing on the walls, ceiling and floors. So more than ever I’ve wanted to go out with our family for dinner.

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Mr Hayley told me during the week how the pubs and restaurants are doing 50 per cent off their food menus in a bid to help get people back through the doors. And let’s be honest, the economy could well do with some boosting just now and a bit of a help so 50 per cent off food in pubs and restaurants Monday-Wednesday is a huge incentive if ever I saw one.

I know it’s all subsidised by the Government and think it’s a great idea, although I’m not quite sure I understand the science and logic behind it all. You still have to wear a mask in a supermarket but can go to a restaurant and eat with lots of other people (distanced of course) but you don’t need to wear a mask. I’m not debating it, just a tad confused.

I won’t be complaining about the discount, however, and like most will be taking full advantage of the money off some grub.

I’m also quite happy to get out and have dinner (as stressful as it can be) with the boys and Mr Hayley so that we can all feel like normality has been resorted, even if it is just for an hour or two.

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My stomach is rumbling as I’m writing this as I reminisce about our Wednesday night TGI Fridays that cost us less than £35, and we all went full bhuna on it! I even had a side salad and coleslaw to go with my dinner, not to mention three quarters of Oryn’s ice-cream sundae!

It did make me think about the very hard working staff and how wouldn’t it be nice if some of that saving could be passed on to them in a tip. I decided to be a little more generous than normal to the waitress, she was lovely and I was just grateful to not have to wipe pizza and beans off the floor for once (although I cleaned up most of it, to be honest).

It also made me think about how this will not be great for all us rolly pollies who have put on the beef during lockdown – but then the positive part of me realised that winter will be upon us soon and we’ll need some extra padding anyway, so munch away.

I’m not sure about the supermarket cafes but I know that Morrisons are doing the discount all week which makes it a very affordable option for a lunch out.

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But I just ask one thing, if you are going out for a meal to a pub or restaurant for the Monday through to Wednesday discount, be kind to the staff. They’ve all had it tough so if you can, give a little extra to the waiting staff where possible.

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