Eat Out to Help Out figures for Lewes and Wealden revealed

More than 200,000 meals were claimed across the Lewes and Wealden constituencies under the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to latest figures.
MP Maria CaulfieldMP Maria Caulfield
MP Maria Caulfield

Participating eateries offered discounts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month of August.

In Lewes more than 117,000 meals were claimed across 114 registered establishments.

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The discount claims totalled £572,000 at an average of £5.32.

Meanwhile, in Wealden more than 105,000 meals were claimed at 117 eateries, with claims totalling £461,000 at an average of £4.38.

According to the Government the scheme is credited with helping to protect 1.8million jobs across the country.

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.

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The Government’s temporary VAT cut for the hospitality industry will continue until January 2021.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield said: “I am absolutely thrilled at the level of support local people in the Lewes 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 that there are businesses in the Lewes constituency 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.”

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Wealden MP Nus Ghani added: “We are extremely fortunate to have so many excellent local cafés, pubs and restaurants in Wealden, who provide a huge and varied range of locally sourced foods and drinks.

“I am pleased with the level of support for the Eat Out to Help out scheme and for our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses in Wealden. Eat Out to Help Out was about far more than just discounted meals.

“It helped to protect jobs in a sector which has greatly struggled throughout the coronavirus crisis and I hope that such great levels of support for our local pubs and restaurants will continue 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 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.

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“I want to thank everyone, from restaurant owners to waiters, chefs and diners, for embracing it and helping drive our economic recovery.”

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