NEARLY £2 million was saved by diners taking advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in Mid and West Wales, figures released by the Government have revealed.

In Ceredigion 116,000 half price meals were eaten at 114 restaurants and cafes as part of the UK Government scheme throughout August, saving diners a total of £668,000.

In Dwyfor Meirionnydd, 93,000 half price meals were eaten at 128 establishments, saving £544,000.

Montgomeryshire diners who took advantage of the offer each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August saved £250,000, eating 43,000 meals at 76 restaurants and cafes.

Preseli Pembrokeshire diners saved £410,000, eating 69,000 meals at 113 locations.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said the scheme’s popularity had helped protect the livelihoods of the 1.8 million people working in the hospitality sector and drive the nation’s economic recover from coronavirus.

Latest figures show that Eat Out to Help out significantly boosted restaurant bookings during the month of August, with the scheme growing in popularity each week 

With the scheme excelling expectations, by midnight on 31 August more than 100 million meals were eaten by diners, with the 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme making 130,000 claims worth £522 million across the UK.

These numbers are likely to grow, with restaurants having until the end of September to claim back the 50 per cent government-funded discount applied to bills.

Mr 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.”

On 31 August - the final day of the scheme - bookings were up 216 per cent compared to the equivalent day in 2019. 

2,957 outlets in Wales were signed up to use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

So far, a total of 2,307,000 meals have been claimed for across Wales.

Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart said: “This summer diners all over Wales have enjoyed more than two million discounted meals while protecting the jobs of thousands of people who work in our fantastic hospitality sector.

“The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been hugely important in giving businesses and customers alike the confidence to get back to enjoying the best that Wales has to offer.

“It is just one part of the UK Government’s drive to get Wales’ economy moving again which has included supporting more than 500,000 jobs, providing business loans, launching the Kickstart scheme to get young people into work and a VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sector.”