THE Government's Eat Out to Help Out initiative has drawn to a close.

But public house giant JD Wetherspoon has now announced its plans for a similar scheme.

'Stay Out to Help Out' launched on Tuesday, September 1 and will run until November 11.

The scheme will see prices of meals and non-alcoholic drinks slashed from Monday to Wednesday, with the company saying its prices will be cheaper than McDonalds or Domino’s Pizza.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: "The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was extremely popular with our customers and a great boost to the hospitality industry.

"We are keen to offer our customers a superb choice of food and drink at great value for money prices.

"Our offer means that a classic beef burger in our pubs will be even better value than McDonalds."

Elsewhere in the district, cafe owner Suzanne McNeil, of the Coffee Tree, in Wylam, said it would not be viable to offer the same discounts into September.

She said: "Unfortunately whilst licensed premises can obviously make up their shortfall with full priced alcohol sales, we cannot.

"Therefore, we can’t afford to offer the same discounts into September."

Nationally, Eat Out to Help Out was picked up 64 million times as diners flocked to pubs, restaurants and cafes to take advantage of 50 per cent eat-in discounts up to the value of £10.