The government Eat Out to Help Out scheme is set to come to an end at the end of this month with the last day being Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st.

There is not yet an indication as to whether it will be extended.

Cafe Strand situated on Market Strand is now into its second year and experiencing "record numbers" thanks to the scheme designed to boost the hospitality industry.

Owners Matthew and Jack told Nub News:

"It has been crazy, it has switched our week around and we have hit record numbers. We have eight fewer tables and less chairs and we have beaten our daily record.

"We changed our menu a little bit adding in a value breakfast which has drawn people in, you see people coming on from Monday to Wednesday now coming in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it has helped to let the tourists know we do good food so they return.

"We have a lot of new locals coming in as well which has been really great.

"It has definitely exceeded our expectations I think considering what has happened over the last three months."

The pair reopened for takeaway in June renovating the cafe and putting safety measures in place.

That was the first step to a full reopening, they added:

"It was stressful, anxiety, sleepless nights, we just didn't know what was going to happen you know.

"We had sort of got up to this point where we had got to our second year where we were really on the up then Coronavirus happened and we were thinking do we have the energy to start again almost but it hasn't been any effort at all.

"I think we have found our winning formula and we will just keep going."

Previously Matthew and Jack told us about changing the reputation of the cafe, into the second year they now believe they are on track, concluding:

"We are more than starting too, there are definitely still people who think we are still the same place, it might still be cafe food but it is leagues above what it was before."

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