More than 35 million adults expected to Eat Out To Help Out as top restaurants sign up

Around 35.6 million adults are expected to dine out as part of the government's Eat Out To Help Out initiative in August, according to a consumer poll.

Hospitality research firm KAM Media found 45% of those asked "definitely will" take part, while 23% "probably will" and 14% "possibly will".

It comes as a number of top restaurants have confirmed they'll be offering diners 50% off food and soft drinks on Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August.

Hawksmoor said it had taken more than 5,000 bookings for August in six hours after confirming that its 200g rump steak, chips and sauce would be reduced from £20 to £10 by the deal.

It comes as research by money.co.uk found that 45 Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK had signed up to participate yesterday.

They include Pollen Street Social, Lyle's, Murano and Gymkhana in London, the Kitchen in Edinburgh, Angel at Hetton in Skipton and Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow.

Meanwhile, the government's tool to find participating restaurants shows that Tom Kerridge's two-Michelin-starred the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and Whatley Manor in Malmesbury, which holds two Michelin stars for its Dining Room restaurant, are also listed.