Almost 1.4 million meals were claimed throughout August in Edinburgh, at an average of £6.90 a meal, under the Eat Out to Help Out UK government scheme to get people back to restaurants.
The scheme gave 50% off meals, up to £10 per person through August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
A total of £9,630,000 was claimed for across 465 registered restaurants in the capital.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has hailed the success of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme getting customers back into restuarants.
The figures also don’t yet highlight the figures from the last day of the scheme on Monday 31 August, meaning the final total will be higher.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “I am delighted that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been such a huge success in Edinburgh and that it has given restaurants a much needed boost after lockdown.
“The restaurant and hospitality sector is central to Edinburgh’s economy and the scheme will have helped many restaurants survive, as well as saving jobs.
“Almost £10 million in claimed discounts show just how big a success this scheme has been.”
| Parliamentary constituency code | Parliamentary Constituency | Total number of registered restaurants2 | Total number of meals claimed for3 5 | Total amount of discount claimed4 5 (£) | Average discount per meal (£) |
| S92 | Scotland | 8,543 | 6,333,000 | 38,607,000 | 6.10 |
| S14000022 | Edinburgh East | 604 | 275,000 | 1,792,000 | 6.52 |
| S14000023 | Edinburgh North and Leith | 533 | 269,000 | 1,842,000 | 6.84 |
| S14000024 | Edinburgh South | 140 | 119,000 | 855,000 | 7.17 |
| S14000025 | Edinburgh South West | 527 | 416,000 | 2,928,000 | 7.03 |
| S14000026 | Edinburgh West | 522 | 319,000 | 2,213,000 | 6.94 |
| 465 | 1,398,000 | 9,630,000 | 6.90 |
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