A HOTEL will become one of the first in the county to continue offering half-price food throughout September following the success of a government discount scheme.

Colwall Park Hotel near Malvern has said it will be extending its Eat Out to Help Out discount for another month after seeing the money spent on food and drink rise by almost a third.

The hotel will continue to offer guests and visitors 50 per cent off their food bill between Monday and Wednesday during September, thanks to the success of the initial government scheme, which officially comes to an end on 31 August.

General manager, Lynsey Kettlewell, said the Eat Out to Help Out scheme had been so well received that the hotel is set to hit its pre-Covid target for August despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme," she said.

"As is the case for many hotels and others in the hospitality industry, coronavirus naturally had a huge impact on business but to be able to say we are going to meet our pre-Covid target for August is brilliant.

“As a result, we are delighted to be in a position to extend the discount to our guests and visitors for another month and we hope that people will continue to take advantage of this great offer.

“We’ve been very mindful of government guidelines in regards to reopening the hotel and restaurant and have got all the necessary steps in place to ensure our visitors and guests can abide by social distancing rules.

"We’re delighted to have been able to welcome guests, both new and old, into the hotel during this time.”

The hotel said the success of the scheme has meant a 30 per cent increase on food and drink revenue compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, 55 per cent of visitors who took advantage of the scheme during the period were new to the hotel.

The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme offered customers 50 per cent off their meal, up to a maximum of £10, at hundreds of restaurants during August.

Diners used the discount more than 64 million times in the scheme's first three weeks, according to the latest figures from the Treasury figures, the equivalent to nearly every person in the country dining out.