Edward Timpson MP celebrates success of Eat Out to Help Out scheme in Eddisbury

More than 114,000 meals were claimed in Eddisbury under the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to the 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 112 in Eddisbury.

Both local MP Edward Timpson 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 £30 billion strategy to create, protect and support jobs as the country bounces back from coronavirus. The Government will continue to support the hospitality industry with a temporary discount to VAT, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, until 12 January 2021. 

Edward Timpson CBE MP said:

“I am absolutely thrilled at the level of support local people in Eddisbury 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 that have really struggled through the pandemic.

“I have no doubt that there are businesses in Eddisbury today which, without this brilliant scheme, may not have made it through the summer. I hope local people will continue to support them in the months ahead.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:

“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.

“These 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 to 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.”

·         More than 100 million meals were claimed under Eat Out to Help Out. As of 31 August, more than 100 million meals were eaten by diners under the scheme, with 84,700 establishments signed up to take part. 130,000 claims have been made so far, with £522 million.

·         We are also temporarily cutting VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors, giving a much-needed boost to some of the industries hardest hit by coronavirus. From 15 July 2020, we have cut the rate of VAT applied across the UK to hospitality, accommodation and attractions from 20 per cent to 5 per cent until 12 January 2021.