More than 1.1 million meals were claimed in Cornwall under the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, new statistics show.

More than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme.

A total of 84,700 eateries signed up, including 988 in Cornwall and 6,671 across the South West.

Cornwall was one of the leading beneficiaries of the scheme in terms of restaurants registered, meals claimed and discount

claimed (over £6.6million).

Looking closer at Truro and Falmouth, 186 restaurants registered for the scheme with 176,000 meals claimed with a discount totalling £1,035,000.

On average, each registered restaurant in Cornwall claimed 1,192 discounted meals – 92 a day for the 13 eligible days – more

than any other county in the region.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has hailed the success of the scheme, which was designed to support the hospitality industry – so crucial

in Cornwall and the wider South West – 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% 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 £30billion 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% to 5%, until 12th

January 2021.

The Chancellor commented:

"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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