Restaurants and bars hit hard by the impact of lockdown have been thrown a lifeline this month with the launch of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
After months of enforced closures with only takeaway trade to rely on, many have had little or no money coming in.
And with lots of people still understandably anxious about going out, or having less money to spend themselves if their jobs have been affected, businesses still have a battle on their hands to get back to pre-lockdown levels of trade.
Restaurants and bars in Greater Manchester have also reported a wave of cancellations since local restrictions were brought in, preventing people from meeting up with family and friends from different households indoors.
The Government discount scheme aims to get people back out onto the high street and stimulate spending in the hospitality sector.
It gives customers up to 50% off their meals when they dine at any participating restaurant, bar or café on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday throughout August.
While the scheme only applies to food and soft drinks, and is capped at £10 per head, it can also be used in conjunction with other offers.
That means restaurants and bars are free to sweeten the deal with their own discounts and freebies too - although they'll still only be able to claim back the maximum £10 per customer from the Government.
Some are throwing in their own drinks deals or offering bargain set menus - and others are doing away with the cap altogether, or extending the same offer to five days a week.
We've rounded up some of the best bargains below. Know a great deal that's not on our radar? Email us at citylife@reachplc.com
Remember, you should only dine out with members of your immediate household or support bubble until restrictions are lifted in Greater Manchester - but you can meet in groups of up to six people from different households outdoors, including on restaurant terraces and in beer gardens.
Dishoom
Remember the queues down Bridge Street when Irani-Indian cafe chain Dishoom first opened its doors in Manchester with half price food?
Don't be surprised to see scenes like that again this August (with added social distancing) after the restaurant removed the £10 cap on the Eat Out to Help Out discount.
That means it's offering a full 50 per cent off your entire food and soft drinks bill from Mondays to Wednesdays.
A breakfast of akuri (spiced scrambled eggs) or kejriwal (chilli cheese toast) and bottomless chai will only set you back just over a fiver as part of the deal, while a lunch of house black daal, roomali roti and a couple of lamb chops comes in at under a tenner.
You'll still need to pay full price for any alcoholic drinks, however.
Bookings can now be made for groups of up to six people at any time of day or evening, although walk-ins are still welcome.
Hawksmoor
Deansgate steakhouse Hawksmoor has a reputation for serving up the best cuts in the city - and usually with a price to match.
Now diners can tuck in to its steak and chips for just a tenner as part of its special Eat Out to Help Out offer.
The deal includes a 300g rump steak, dry-aged for 35 days, with chips and a sauce, which would normally tot up to about £30.
But on Mondays to Wednesdays to coincide with the deal, they've slashed that to £20, meaning you can get it for just £10 with the Government discount.
And, although the deal doesn't apply to alcohol, there's a way to save some money on your booze bill too. Just visit on a Monday, when you can bring your own bottle of wine for just a £5 corkage charge.
Can't say fairer than that.
The Eat Out to Help Out discount is also available across the full Hawksmoor menu.
La Bandera
Spanish restaurant La Bandera is also removing the £10 cap and extending the offer to include all food and soft drinks.
Throughout August, all our guests visiting from Monday to Wednesday between 5pm and 10pm can enjoy 50 per cent off all food and non-alcoholic drinks.
The Ridgefield restaurant opened in 2014 and quickly became a firm favourite among the city's Spanish football contingent, with fans including David Silva and Juan Mata.
The menu includes tapas such as squid ink croquetas, Canarian king prawns and Iberian pork tenderloin, alongside freshly-cooked paellas to share.
Bookings are said to be filling up fast, so reservations are recommended.
Three Little Words
Manchester Gin's distillery restaurant is offering its own 'Treat Out to Help Out' deal, with no £10 cap.
Diners can enjoy as much food as they like from the menu for half price on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5pm throughout August (it's closed on Mondays). All soft drinks are 50 per cent off too.
The Watson Street venue has also put together a set menu priced at £15 once the discount is applied, which includes any two courses, any side and a 'proper drink' (a double G&T, wine or beer).
Booking is recommended.
Almost Famous
Burger bar Almost Famous has launched a new meal deal to help diners max out the Eat Out to Help Out discount.
Every Monday to Wednesday, diners can choose any burger, any fries, a portion of wings and a large soft drink for £20 - slashed to a tenner once the discount is applied.
Depending on your choices, all that could normally set you back up to £26.70 at full price.
They've also launched a '2020 stk' special to celebrate the offer - a towering double cheeseburger, with 'wonder buttered' peppered steak, smashed tots, chorizo, bacon ketchup, peppered mayo and dijon mustard.
Napkins at the ready...
Hard Rock Cafe
Printworks diner Hard Rock Cafe is extending the Eat Out to Help Out offer to include Thursdays and Fridays too.
That means 50 per cent off, up to a maximum discount of £10 per head, every weekday, with no minimum spend.
While it doesn't include alcoholic drinks, if you time your visit right you can also take advantage of its new happy hour deals, including £2 off selected draught beer, single house spirits for £3.25, red or white wine for £3.50 a glass, and signature cocktails for £5.25.
Happy hour runs from 4pm to 7pm, Sunday to Thursday, and from 9pm until close on Fridays and Saturdays (but the food offer isn't available at the weekends).
Carluccio's
There's no £10 cap at Italian chain Carluccio's, where diners can enjoy a full 50 per cent off the entire food menu.
While the Eat Out to Help Out scheme doesn't cover booze, the restaurant group is slashing £10 off all bottles of wine from Mondays to Wednesdays to pair with the deal.
The chain permanently closed its flagship Manchester restaurant in Spinningfields in May, but the Trafford Centre and Manchester Piccadilly branches were saved as part of a buyout.
Both are yet to reopen but are listed as 'opening soon' on the Carluccio's website, so may be back in time to make use of the deal.
To help you find restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars taking part in the scheme near you, we've teamed up with our local listings website InYourArea to create this widget.
All you have to do is enter your postcode in the search box above (click 'View On InYourArea' if results don't display automatically) to find details of participating businesses on your doorstep.
If you can't see the search box on your device, click 'view interactive content'.
You can use the scheme as many times as you like during August and restaurants will be fully reimbursed by the Government for the money you save.
