More than 82,000 meals were claimed in the Monmouth constituency under the UK Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to latest statistics.
In total, more than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme, which ran throughout the month of August. In total, 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme, including 115 in the Monmouth constituency.
Both local MP David Davies and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have hailed the success of the scheme, which was designed to support the hospitality industry 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 per cent on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the whole of August, compared to the same days in 2019.
Eat Out to Help Out was just one part of the Conservative Government’s Plan for Jobs – an ambitious £30bn strategy to create, protect and support jobs as the country bounces back from coronavirus.
The UK Government will continue to support the hospitality industry with a temporary discount to VAT, from 20 per cent to five per cent, until 12 January 2021.
Mr Davies said: "I am absolutely thrilled at the level of support people in the Monmouth constituency have provided to our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses.
“Eat Out to Help Out was always about far more than just giving people money off their meals. It was about protecting jobs which are reliant on businesses which have really struggled through coronavirus.
“I have no doubt there are local businesses today which, without this brilliant scheme, may not have made it through the summer. I hope people will continue to support them in the months ahead.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “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.”