These are the areas of Yorkshire that benefitted most and least from Eat Out to Help Out

A total of 5,711 non-chain businesses (with fewer than 26 outlets) were signed up to the scheme last month, with large national chains also taking part.

Over five million meals were claimed by customers in Yorkshire using the 50 per cent discount.

This means that a total of £31.5million was spent, with the average discount per meal £5.78.

And the breakdown of figures for Yorkshire by parliamentary constituency reveal some fascinating variations in local dining scenes.

Leeds Central - which includes the city centre - was the big winner. The constituency had the most restaurants registered to take part (367), the most meals claimed (294,000) and the most income generated (£1.8million).

The other areas with the most registered businesses were Sheffield Central, York Central, Richmond - Chancellor Rishi Sunak's seat - Scarborough and Whitby and Skipton and Ripon.

The most meals were claimed in Leeds Central, Scarborough and Whitby, Sheffield Central, York Central and Bradford West. These seats also generated the most income, along with Richmond and Thirsk and Malton.

£1.1million was spent by diners in Thirsk and Malton, the latter of which is marketed as Yorkshire's gastronomic capital. Staycationers holidaying in the Dales, North York Moors and coast are likely to be behind the large revenues in Scarborough and Whitby (£1.4million) and Richmond (£1.07million). Bradford West also had an excellent month, generating £1.4million for city restaurants such as its famous curryhouses.

The most expensive average meal price was in Leeds North West at £7.76 after discount, and the cheapest just £2.90 in Sheffield Brightside.

Areas which benefitted least for the scheme tend to be among the most economically deprived in the region.

Hull East had just 24 registered businesses, and Barnsley East, Hemsworth and Rother Valley each had 32. Only £25,000 was spent by diners in Hull East, and £26,000 in Rother Valley.

OpenTable data also shows that nationally, bookings by Eat Out to Help Out customers rose by 53 per cent - in July, before the scheme began, they were down 54 per cent compared to July 2019.

On August 31, the final day of the scheme, reservations shot up by 216 per cent compared to the same day in 2019.

Among the restaurant brands to have praised the scheme are pizza chain Franco Manca, The Real Greek and Pho.

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