MALTON-based bus operator Coastliner is offering free journeys to boost York’s evening economy as businesses join the government-backed “Eat Out to Help Out” initiative.

The government is financially supporting hospitality businesses who join in with the promotion, which offers 50 per cent off food and non-alcoholic drinks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August.

Customers can get a maximum of £10 off food and drinks when they dine or drink in with no minimum spend, and the discount can be used in conjunction with other promotions.

Coastliner is offering free one-way tickets for use on its buses after 6pm on the three “Eat Out to Help Out” evenings each week in August, via its Transdev Go mobile app, to encourage more people to support food and drinks venues.

Coastliner general manager Ben Mansfield said: “Our buses play a vitally important role in York’s economy, and we wanted to do everything possible to make ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ a success for local hospitality businesses who’ve been through an unprecedented time during lockdown.

“All our customers need to do to get a free evening one-way journey ticket for any date when the scheme is running until is to request one by email to backtobus@transdevbus.co.uk

“We’ll then send a free single ticket to the customer’s mobile device using our Transdev Go app – adding up to a handy 50 per cent discount on travel compared with two single fares, to match the half price food and drinks offer.

“Our buses are the ideal way to reach all the hospitality businesses in York offering half-price food and drinks during the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ promotion.

“We hope our new and exciting free travel offer will give hospitality businesses every chance to make the most of this opportunity to bring customers into the city, while protecting our local environment.”

Coastliner’s free travel promotion is being offered as part of its “Back to Bus” campaign to promote the benefits of going by bus now that travel restrictions have eased locally and across the country.

Full details of all services operated by Coastliner and its sister companies Cityzap and York and Country are available online at transdevbus.co.uk/york and on the free to download Transdev Go mobile app