Cumbria Tourism has teamed up with the county’s Lord Lieutenant and MPs in county-wide efforts to help local food and drink businesses get back up and running through the Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme.
Cumbria Tourism Board members have been out and about meeting local businesses who are offering discounts as part of the newly-launched Eat Out to Help Out initiative.
They have been accompanied by Cumbria’s Lord Lieutenant Claire Hensman and MPs from across the county, to listen to their recent experiences about the impact of the pandemic and to help inspire customer confidence about eating out again.
Locations ranged from Coniston, Hawkshead, Keswick and Cockermouth, to Barrow and Ulverston, alongside Brampton, Carlisle and Workington.
Chairman of Cumbria Tourism, Jim Walker, has been among those visiting hospitality businesses.
He said: “More than 65,500 jobs and livelihoods rely on Cumbria’s visitor economy, so we are hoping that Eat Out to Help Out will provide a much-needed boost for hardworking tourism businesses, who have pulled out all the stops to ensure their establishments are COVID-secure and ready to welcome people back.
“We thank everyone involved in the whistle-stop tours so far this week; the aim is not just to reassure and encourage people to eat out, but also to consider combining meals with day trips or overnight stays to the fantastic range of attractions and accommodation providers we have here on our doorsteps.
“By supporting local businesses through the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, residents across Cumbria really can show their practical support for our vital tourism industry.”
The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August and allows people to get 50 per cent off up to the value of £10 per person in any participating establishment.
The Government has also launched a restaurant finder to enable diners to search for participating eateries within a 5 mile radius of a specific postcode.
