Blackpool snapped up nearly £2.3m discounts during Eat out to Help Out scheme

Diners in Blackpool claimed thousands of meals during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme last summer, according to the latest figures from the Government.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The scheme, which was designed to give struggling hospitality businesses a financial boost during the pandemic, saw foodies across the country dine out for a fraction of the usual cost.

The Government picked up 50 per cent of the bill (up to £10 per person) three days a week throughout August.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Figures released today from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs show that more than 106 million meals were claimed for across the UK, totalling over £611m.

Inside Stefani's in Cedar SquareInside Stefani's in Cedar Square
Inside Stefani's in Cedar Square

Diners in Blackpool claimed 540,000 meals across 198 restaurants under the scheme.

This provided an average discount of £4.24 per meal for diners.

The total amount claimed by Blackpool businesses was £2,289,000. This resulted in restaurants claiming an average of £11,600.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Fylde, 101 restaurants took part and 203,000 meals were claimed on making a total discount of £1,202,000 and an average of £5.92 claimed by diners and £11,900 claimed on average by restaurants.

Some 118 Wyre restaurants took part, with 237,000 meals claimed on. £1,145,000 discount was claimed in total and diners got on average £4.83 with on average £9,700 claimed by outlets.

Nico Stefani from Stefani’s pizzeria in Cedar Square said: “Of course it was helpful, we had so much demand on days which were probably our quietest even before COVID 19."

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said although the scheme was a “welcome boost” to businesses, more now needed to be done by the Government to help businesses through the new lockdown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “The Eat Out To Help Out scheme is now unfortunately a distant memory in light of the subsequent restrictions and enforced closures suffered by so many businesses.

"These numbers highlight how the sector grabbed this opportunity and played its part in rebuilding customer confidence in eating and drinking out and helped the wider economy. It can play this role again and is desperate to do so once restrictions are lifted.

“Hospitality can play this role again and is desperate to do so once restrictions are lifted by offering safe and controlled environments for consumers to come back together.

“But we need further support from the Government, including a continuation of measures such as the VAT cut and business rates holiday, in order to revitalise the economy this year and beyond.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

HM Treasury said the scheme brought back over 400,000 people from furlough but did not specify whether it, or something similar, would return in the future.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: “As we have done throughout the pandemic, we have worked with creativity and at pace to support individuals and businesses.

“We designed The Eat Out to Help Out scheme to protect 2 million jobs in hospitality, an industry whose employees are at high risk of long-term unemployment in the event of redundancy.

“It protected jobs across the UK by bringing back 400,000 people from furlough whilst safely restoring consumer confidence.”

Blackpool Gazette: Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here