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Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant

Applications for this grant scheme have now closed.

Please read all the information on this page before applying.

The scheme provides support to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle over the coming weeks. This support will take the form of a one-off grant up to £6000.

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is for businesses on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) ratings list only. The primary principle of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

Businesses must have been trading on 30 December 2021 to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.

The scheme will close, and decisions will need to be made by 18 March 2022, so you must apply by 11 March 2022.

The following thresholds apply:

Rateable Value

Grant award amount

Rateable value of £15,000 or under

£2,667

Rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000

£4,000

Rateable value of £51,000 or over

£6,000

Exclusions to Grant funding

  • Businesses that are not within the ratings system will not be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances will not be eligible to receive funding.
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme.

Businesses that are eligible

Hospitality

For the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

  • Businesses offering in-person food and drink services to the general public.
  • Businesses that provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors.

For these purposes, the definition of a hospitality business should exclude: food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes.

Leisure

For the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

  • Businesses that may provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.
  • Businesses that may rely on seasonal labour.
  • Businesses that may assume particular public safety responsibilities.
  • Businesses that may operate with irregular hours through day, night and weekends.

For these purposes, the definition of a leisure business should exclude: all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators, and gyms and sports businesses where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis.

Accommodation

For the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel or other purposes.

  • Businesses that provide accommodation for 'away from home' stays for work or leisure purposes.
  • Businesses that provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.

For these purposes, the definition of an accommodation business should exclude: private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts.

Example list of eligible businesses

This table sets out types of businesses that are eligible under the sector thresholds for this scheme. This list is not exhaustive, but indicative of the types of businesses that can be supported under this scheme.

Hospitality

  • Food courts
  • Public houses/pub restaurants
  • Restaurants
  • Roadside restaurants
  • Wine bars
  • Cafés

Leisure

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

 

Accommodation

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

Will grants be subject to tax?

Grant income received by a business is taxable. The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will need to be included as income in the tax return of the business.

Subsidy allowance information

Subsidy allowance has now replaced State Aid following the end of the transition period and the UK's exit from the EU.

Further details are available in the Subsidy Allowance overview (PDF 169KB / 4 pages). Alternatively, visit GOV.UK Complying with the UK's International Obligations on Subsidy Control.