The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is a scheme to support Hospitality, Leisure and Accommodation businesses who have had their trading impacted by the recent surge in Covid cases because of the new Omicron variant.
This is a one-off grant scheme that commenced from Thursday 30 December 2021 and closed on 18 March 2022.
This scheme will be administered in line with Government requirements.
Who is eligible?
Grants are available for businesses that have a Business Rates account as of Thursday 30 December 2021 and operate within the Leisure, Hospitality and Accommodation sectors including:
Support Type
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Types of Business
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Hospitality
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Food courts, Public houses/pub restaurants
Restaurants, Roadside restaurants
Wine bars, Cafés
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Leisure
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Casinos and gambling clubs, Cinemas
Museums and art galleries, Stately homes & historic houses
Theatres, Events venues, Night clubs & discotheques, Arenas, Concert halls
Zoos & safari parks, Amusement parks, Tourist attractions, Theme parks
Amusement arcades, Wedding venues
Soft play centres or areas
Indoor riding centres
Clubs & institutions, Village halls & scout huts, cadet huts, etc.
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Accommodation
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Caravan parks, Caravan sites and pitches, Chalet parks, Campsites
Coaching inns, Country house hotels, Guest houses, Hostels, Boarding houses
Hotels, Lodge, Holiday apartments, Cottages, or bungalows
Canal boats or other vessels
B&Bs, Catered holiday homes, Holiday homes
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Businesses will only be eligible where their main service falls within hospitality, leisure, or accommodation. If your business operates services that could be considered hospitality, leisure or accommodation, and falls into another category, the main service will be determined by assessing which category constitutes 50% or more of the overall income.
For the purpose of this scheme the following exclusions apply:
- Hospitality - the definition of a hospitality business should exclude food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway
- Leisure - the definition of a leisure business should exclude all retail businesses, coach tour operators, and tour operators
- Accommodation - the definition of an accommodation business should exclude private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts.
Who isn’t eligible?
Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme for the purposes of this grant
Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State aid permitted under the de minimis and the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework.
Businesses that were not registered for Business Rates on Thursday 30 December 2021.
Funding amounts
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will support eligible businesses in the Leisure and Hospitality sectors with one-off grants of up to £6,000. The following thresholds apply for these businesses:
- Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
- Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
- Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.
The deadline for applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant was 18 March 2022.
The Council must carry out pre-payment checks, so please allow up to 14 days before you receive a decision and payment.
Please note: the grant administration team will not have the capacity to provide information about previous grants to businesses so you will need to obtain through reviewing your bank account statements and accounts.