Today marks the launch of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. You can use this scheme to get a 50% discount – of up to £10 per person – when eating out in cafes, restaurants or pubs every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this month.

The discount only applies to food and non-alcoholic drinks, but you can use it as many times as you like, and at the same time as other offers or discounts.

This measure was an important part of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs, announced last month. Up to 280 businesses in Elmbridge could benefit from the scheme, so a real boost for our local economy. HMRC has created a useful tool, here, which you can use to search for participating businesses near you.

Our local hospitality industry has faced really challenging conditions over the past few months. While many pubs and restaurants re-opened in early July, they’re still facing a very tough time. I would encourage residents to make use of this scheme to help support our important local businesses.