• Over 100 million meals have been claimed under the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme
• 86,000 meals claimed through the scheme in Crawley
• Local MP urges people to continue supporting Crawley businesses as the UK bounces back from coronavirus

Henry Smith MP has welcomed the news that more than 86,000 meals were claimed in Crawley 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 via the scheme, which ran throughout the month of August. In total, some 84,700 establishments signed up, including 68 in Crawley.

Both Crawley MP Henry Smith and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have hailed the success of the initiative, which was designed to support the hospitality industry after a challenging few months because of coronavirus.

Henry said;

“I’m thrilled at the level of support which people in Crawley have provided to our restaurants and hospitality businesses. I’ve certainly enjoyed a number of delicious, good value meals locally as a result.

“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 the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have no doubt that there are businesses in Crawley 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.”

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 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 12th January 2021.

The 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.

“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.”