More than one million meals claimed via Eat Out to Help Out in Cornwall
988 eateries in the Duchy signed up to the government scheme
It has been revealed that more than 1.1 million meals were claimed in Cornwall under the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
New figures show more than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme, which ran throughout August.
A total of 84,700 eateries signed up, including 988 in Cornwall and 6,671 across the South West.
Cornwall was one of the leading beneficiaries of the scheme in terms of restaurants registered, meals claimed and discount claimed (over ÂŁ6.6million).
The North Cornwall constituency topped the county table in meals claimed (266,000) and discount claimed (over ÂŁ1.5million), followed closely by St Ives and St Austell and Newquay.
On average, each registered restaurant in Cornwall claimed 1,192 discounted meals – 92 a day for the 13 eligible days – more than any other county in the region.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has hailed the success of the scheme, which was designed to support the hospitality industry – so crucial in Cornwall and the wider South West – after a challenging few months because of coronavirus.
The scheme is credited with protecting 1.8 million jobs across the country, with restaurant bookings significantly up on the previous year.
Data from OpenTable shows bookings increased by an average of 52% on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the whole of August, compared to the same days in 2019.
Eat Out to Help Out was one part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, a £30billion strategy to create, protect and support jobs as the country bounces back from coronavirus.
The government says it will continue to support the hospitality industry with a temporary discount to VAT, from 20% to 5%, until 12th January 2021.
“From the get-go our mission has been to protect jobs, and to do this we needed to be creative, brave and try things that no government has ever done before.
“Today’s figures continue to show Eat Out to Help Out has been a success.
“I want to thank everyone, from restaurant owners to waiters, chefs and diners, for embracing it and helping drive our economic recovery.
“The scheme is just one part of our Plan for Jobs and we will continue to protect, support and create jobs to ensure we come back stronger as a nation.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak