CREWE and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan is backing the Chancellor's 'Eat Out to Help Out' campaign aimed at easing hospitality businesses out of lockdown.

As part of his mini-budget Rishi Sunak also announced that VAT would be cut for six months for all businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and attractions industries.

The MP says that 460 businesses in Crewe and Nantwich should benefit, while the public are being urged to use a voucher scheme to support local restaurants throughout August. He highlighted the scheme during a spot of lunch at the White Hart in Hough as well as a visit to the Food for Thought Bakery in Haslington.

He says measures to reward employers who successfully bring furloughed staff back are important to stave off the grip of recession.

The new Jobs Retention Bonus Scheme will encourage employers to keep their employees on by paying a one-off payment of £1,000 for every employee previously furloughed and who is successfully kept on until January.

A VAT cut down from 20 to five per cent for hospitality, accommodation and attraction businesses is aimed at supporting the sectors which have been hard hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Hotels have only been tentatively reopening around Crewe. While the Ibis Styles on Crewe Business Park and the White Lion in Weston reopened their doors at the weekend, Premier Inn which has two hotels in Crewe, is undertaking a phased reopening. Other establishments, such as the Royal Hotel on Nantwich Road, remain shut and say they are waiting for the bookings market to pick up.

"We should not underestimate how difficult recent months have been for many businesses in Crewe, especially with the misguided approach by Cheshire East to bring back parking charges so soon," said the MP.

"Now that the virus is coming under control, we must turn our attention to creating and protecting jobs. I hope that everyone will answer the call to 'Eat Out to Help Out'. This fantastic new scheme, along with the cut in VAT, is the much-needed lifeline many businesses have been calling for.

"I have been visiting business across the constituency myself to see how effective they have been in preparing to have their customers back in a safe way."

Under the initiative the government will pay for up to 50 per cent of people's meals out at restaurants, pubs and cafes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August.

All diners will get a discount of up to 50 per cent on their meal up to a maximum of £10 per person. Businesses can claim the money back from the Government, which will be paid in five working days. The MP believes up to 210 businesses in Crewe and Nantwich could benefit from the move.