Eat Out to Help Out: The number of meals ordered and restaurants that took part in the government scheme in Edinburgh

Diners in Edinburgh claimed thousands of meals during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme last summer, according to the latest figures from the Government.

Across the UK, more than 106 million meals were claimed for, totalling over £611 million.

In Edinburgh, 716 restaurants claimed as part of the scheme, with 904,000 meals.

Eat Out to Help Out: The number of meals ordered and restaurants that took part in the government scheme in Edinburgh

A total of £6,058,000 was claimed from the Capital, with an average of £8,500 per restaurant.

This adds up to an average of £6.70 per meal.

The Eat Out to Help Out 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% of the bill (up to £10 per person) three days a week throughout August.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said although the scheme was a “welcome boost” to businesses, more now needs to be done by the Government to help businesses through the new national lockdown.

Ms Nicholls said: “The Eat Out To Help Out scheme is now unfortunately a deep and 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 power the wider economy.

“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.”

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 spokesperson 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."

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