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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Emma Munbodh

Eat Out to Help Out could be relaunched this winter after summer success

Eat Out to Help Out could be reintroduced to help boost pubs, cafés and restaurants after the government's furlough scheme comes to a close in October.

The initiative, launched to boost the economy and support the flailing hospitality sector, is reportedly "under review" for round two.

Some restaurants have extended their own versions of the scheme since it closed to the public on August 31, however hospitality experts say it needs government backing.

Today, Tory MP for St Austell and Newquay Steve Double addressed the Commons, saying: "August has been incredibly busy in Cornwall but we do face a big challenge as we head into winter for the hospitality sector.

"So could I ask (Sunak) if he would consider a similar sort of scheme to be run at some point during the winter to help as many businesses as possible survive the winter and be here for next summer?"

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman replied: "I would say that there is this wider package… of course the Treasury keeps all these measures under review… but it is a pretty formidable combination of VAT reduction, business rates relief and of course billions in tax deferrals and loans."

Government funding of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has ended (Amer Ghazzal/REX/Shutterstock)

Brits redeemed more than 100million meals on the back of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme last month, helping to inject cash into the troubled hospitality sector after months of closures.

It gave diners 50% off their meals up to the value of £10 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday in August.

In April, around 80% of hospitality firms stopped trading, with 1.4million workers furloughed, according to government data - the highest of any sector.

The scheme, which has cost the Treasury at least £522million, saw restaurant reservations spike by 53% over the course of the month.

"From the get-go our mission has been to protect jobs, and to do this we needed to be creative, brave and try things that no government has ever done before," Rishi Sunak said.

"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."

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