Monklands diners saved a combined total of £668,000 on 105,000 meals as they headed back to hospitality during August using the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
A total of 54,000 discounted orders were served up in participating restaurants in the Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill constituency area last month, and 51,000 in neighbouring Airdrie & Shotts.
Diners in Coatbridge received an average discount of £6.87 through the scheme – the ninth-highest local area discount in Scotland and above the national average saving of £6.10.
The town had 50 businesses participating in the government-sponsored scheme, which saw customers receive 50 per cent or up to £10 per person off the bill for sit-down meals from Mondays to Wednesdays to encourage a return to eating out following the coronavirus lockdown.
Airdrie & Shotts diners saved an average of £5.81 during the scheme at the area’s 62 locally-registered businesses; the figures do not include participating chains with more than 25 outlets such as fast-food giants and supermarket cafes.
Coatbridge restaurants have so far claimed a total of £370,000 from the government, and those in Airdrie £298,000; with the numbers potentially set to rise further as they so far include claims made up to August 27, and owners still have the rest of this month to make their final submissions to the scheme.
Scottish secretary Alister Jack said the scheme had been a “roaring success” and had helped “protect 1.8 million jobs in the hospitality sector”.
He said: “More than 6.3 million meals were enjoyed in Scotland, with the UK Government paying up to £10 towards each. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported the scheme, as well as the staff who made it possible.”
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Announcing that more than 100 million meals were served up across the UK under the scheme, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our mission has been to protect jobs; and I want to thank everyone, from restaurant owners to waiters, chefs and diners, for embracing Eat Out to Help Out and helping drive our economic recovery.”
