94,000 meals claimed under Eat Out to Help Out in Rochdale borough

A staggering 94,000 meals have been claimed for in the Rochdale borough as part of the landmark Eat Out to Help Out schemes, statistics show.

The Chancellor yesterday (Friday 4 September) thanked Britons for helping protect thousands of jobs across the UK after statistics revealed that more than 100 million meals were eaten nationally.

Rishi Sunak said the scheme’s popularity had helped protect the livelihoods of the 1.8 million people working in the hospitality sector and drive the nation’s economic recovery from coronavirus.    

Latest figures show that Eat Out to Help out significantly boosted restaurant bookings during the month of August, with the scheme growing in popularity each week.

With the scheme excelling expectations, by midnight on 31 August, 94,000 meals were eaten by local diners, with 122 establishments signed up to the scheme making £625,000 worth of claims. However, the actual figure is expected to be much higher, as these stats only relate to businesses that have less than 26 outlets.  

These numbers are likely to grow, with restaurants having until the end of September to claim back the 50% government-funded discount applied to bills.

Chancellor 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. 

“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.”

According to OpenTable data, restaurant bookings increased by an average of 53% on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the whole of August, compared to the same days in 2019. In July 2020, restaurant bookings were down 54% on average from Mondays to Wednesdays compared to 2019.

On 31 August - the final day of the scheme - bookings were up 216% compared to the equivalent day in 2019. 

And early signs show that despite ending, the scheme has continued to boost demand, with a 2 per cent rise in restaurant bookings on Tuesday 1 September compared to the equivalent day in 2019, according to OpenTable.

There had been an upward trend in the scheme’s popularity since it launched, with 10.5 million meals claimed for in total in the first week, 35 million meals in total up to the end of the second week, 64 million in total up to the end of the third week, reaching over 100 million by 31 August.

The scheme was used across the entire UK, with over 51 million meals claimed for in England by 27 August.