Coronavirus: How Sussex claimed during Eat Out To Help Out

The government scheme was introduced to help hospitality venues recover from the huge blow of the first national lockdown.

The campaign ran from August 3 to August 31, offering customers the chance to halve their bills at many of their favourite restaurants, pubs, bars and more, with the businesses able to claim the savings back from HM Revenue and Customers.

But it has since come under heavy criticism for encouraging large numbers of people out into public places during the coronavirus pandemic.

In England, 50,592 restaurants took advantage of the government scheme with 90,008,000 meals claimed for.

This meant a total of £517,102,000 was claimed in discounts, with the average amount claimed at each outlet standing at £10,200.

The average discount per meal was £5.75.

Here is how people in each of Sussex's 13local authority areas spent during the scheme:

(The data only covers registered businesses with less than 25 outlets. Chains with more sites are not required to provide individual restaurant details. Values for the total number of meals claimed for and the total amount of discount claimed have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Average claimed discount per outlet is rounded to the nearest 100.)

Louise Yates, a brilliant start to the day in Brighton

1. Brighton and Hove

In Brighton and Hove, 500 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 735,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £4,521,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £9,000, with an average discount per meal of £6.15.

Horsham has been named one of the happiest places to live in the UK

2. Horsham

In Horsham, 130 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 171,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £978,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £7,500, with an average discount per meal of £5.17.

3. Mid Sussex

In Mid Sussex, 115 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 176,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £991,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £8,600, with an average discount per meal of £5.64.

A murmuration of starlings over Worthing Pier by Janet Levett

4. Worthing

In Worthing, 125 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 187,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,151,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £9,200, with an average discount per meal of £6.16.

Eastbourne Pier looks vibrant in this shot by Ginger Fair

5. Eastbourne

In Eastbourne, 148 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 255,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,455,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £9,800, with an average discount per meal of £5.70.

hastings seafront file pic taken from east hill cliff .hastings pier after restoration - hastings beach looking west to st leonards , bexhill and distance eastbourne (left of pic).

6. Hastings

In Hastings, 95 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 159,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £787,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £8,300, with an average discount per meal of £4.96.

Lewes residents will receive census survey invites from early March. Photo: Liz Finlayson

7. Lewes

In Lewes, 83 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of £117,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £605,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £7,300, with an average discount per meal of £5.17.

Aerial of Rother by Jason Hawkes.

8. Rother

In Rother, 141 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 219,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,221,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £8,700, with an average discount per meal of £5.57.

Amorous couple toasting with red wine in restaurant.

9. Wealden

In Wealden, 151 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 249,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,198,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £7,900, with an average discount per meal of £4.82.

Danka Pogorzelec took this fantastic shot of Shoreham Port

10. Adur

In Adur, 35 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 77,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £295,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £8,400, with an average discount per meal of £3.85.

Arundel

11. Arun

In Arun, 131 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 252,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,276,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £9,700, with an average discount per meal of £5.07.

12. Chichester

In Chichester, 164 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 323,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £1,809,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £11,000, with an average discount per meal of £5.60.

CRAWLEY LOCKDOWN PICTURES - TOWN HARDEST HIT BY COVID -19 DUE TO ITS HIGH EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION WITH GATWICK AIRPORT TAKEN WEDNESY 6-1-21.

13. Crawley

In Crawley, 62 restaurants claimed money through the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

A total of 160,000 meals were claimed for, totalling a value of £782,000.

Of the restaurants to take part, sites on average claimed £12,600, with an average discount per meal of £4.89.