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Omicron hospitality and leisure grant

The Omicron hospitality and leisure grant is now closed. The grant aimed to support hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses who had their trading impacted by the recent surge in Covid cases because of the new Omicron variant.

Who could apply?

We operated this grant scheme on behalf of the government and it will be administered in line with government guidelines.

The grant was available to businesses offering in-person service on the premises, and have been the direct ratepayer on 30 December 2021, and be trading.

Three categories of businesses were eligible to apply:

Eligible:

This is defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink. 

  • Food courts
  • Public houses
  • Wine bars
  • Pub restaurants
  • Restaurants
  • Cafés.

Not eligible:

For clarity, food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway are not eligible.

Eligible:

This is defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out, betting and gaming.

  • Casinos and gambling clubs
  • Cinemas
  • Museums and art galleries
  • Stately homes and historic houses
  • Theatres
  • Zoos and safari parks
  • Amusement parks
  • Wedding venues
  • Events venues
  • Night clubs and discotheques
  • Arenas
  • Concert halls
  • Tourist attractions
  • Theme parks
  • Amusement arcades
  • Soft play centres or areas
  • Clubs and institutions
  • Village halls and scout huts, cadet huts, etc. (we will consider applications from community centres)

Not eligible:

For clarity gyms and sports businesses, including dance and fitness studios; sports centres and clubs; sports courts; swimming pools and golf courses where physical exercise or training is conducted, are not eligible.

Eligible:

This is defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel or other purposes. 

  • Caravan parks
  • Caravan sites and pitches
  • Chalet parks
  • Coaching inns
  • Country house hotels
  • Guest houses
  • Hostels
  • Hotels
  • Lodges
  • Holiday apartments, cottages or bungalows
  • Campsites
  • Boarding houses
  • Canal boats or other vessels
  • B&Bs
  • Catered holiday homes
  • Holiday homes.

Not eligible:

For clarity, private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts are not eligible.

 

Who cannot apply

  • Any business which was not the direct ratepayer to the council as at 30 December 2021.
  • Any business not in the list above, or similar to them. For clarity, shops, takeaways, travel agents, bookmakers, personal care and salon services, home based and mobile businesses, gyms and sports businesses, including dance and fitness studios; sports centres and clubs; sports courts; swimming pools and golf courses where physical exercise or training is conducted, are not eligible
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of Subsidy (State aid).

How much will I receive?

Grants will be for each rateable premise, based on the rateable value. This is a one-off grant.

  • rateable value of £15,000 or less: a grant of £2,667
  • rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000: a grant of £4,000
  • rateable value of £51,000 or above: a grant of £6,000.

Payments of any grant award will be made within 21 days of a fully verified application being received. Grants are taxable and should be included as income in the tax return of the business.

Subsidy allowances

This scheme is covered by three possible subsidy allowances:

  • Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance – you are allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) in Small Amounts of Financial Assistance over any rolling period of three financial years
  • COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance – under this allowance you are allowed up to £1,900,000 across all COVID-19 Business Grant schemes
  • COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance - if you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £10,000,000 across all COVID-19 Business Grant schemes

Grants under these three allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £12,235,000 (subject to exchange rates).

How do I apply?

We have now closed applications for this fund. We are not allowed to pay grants automatically to businesses that received grants earlier in the pandemic, or to use evidence previously supplied.

Fraud prevention

Alongside the government, we will not tolerate fraud. Any fraudulent applications will be subject to further investigation, and any grant payments will be subject to recovery action. All applications will undergo a number of counter-fraud checks.

Data sharing

All data related to business grant applications may be shared with the Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.