The application process for this grant is now closed
On 21 December 2021, government announced the introduction of a grant to support the hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition of the potential trading challenges brought about by the rise of the Omicron variant.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is only available to business rate payers and is a one-off grant. The amount of grant support awarded depends on the rateable value of each business.
Payments will be made to qualifying recipients by 31 March 2022.
How much you will receive
- properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, will receive a payment of £2,667
- properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and below £51,000, will receive a payment of £4,000
- properties with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 and over, will receive a payment of £6,000
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for this grant is different to other Covid-19 schemes and there are additional checks which the government requires councils to undertake. Receiving previous grants does not guarantee you will receive a grant under this scheme.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is only available to the business on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) ratings list.
Any changes to the rating list after 30 December 2021 will be ignored for the purposes of eligibility. Councils are not required to adjust or make payment where the rating list is subsequently amended retrospectively to 30 December 2021.
Businesses must have been trading on 30 December 2021 to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.
Exclusions
- 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
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.
Eligibility
- you must offer in-person food and drink services to the general public
- you must provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors
Who is included
- food courts
- public houses/pub restaurants
- restaurants
- roadside restaurants
- wine bars
- cafes
Who is excluded
Businesses whose main services is a takeaway or food kiosk.
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 nights out.
Eligibility
- you must provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods
- you may rely on seasonal labour
- you may assume particular public safety responsibilities
- you may operate with irregular hours through the day, night and weekends.
Who is included
- 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
Who is excluded
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 and other purposes.
Eligibility
- you must provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes; or,
- you must provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.
Who is included
- caravan parks
- caravan sites and pitches
- chalet parks
- coaching inns
- country house hotels
- guest and boarding houses
- hostels
- hotels
- lodges
- holiday apartments, cottages or bungalows
- campsites
- boarding houses
- canal boats or other vessels
- B&Bs
- catered holiday homes
- holiday homes
Who is excluded
- private dwellings
- education accommodation
- residential homes
- care homes
- residential family centres
- beach huts
Subsidy allowance
Subsidy allowance has now replaced State Aid following the end of the transition period and the UK’s exit from the EU.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is covered by three subsidy allowances:
- Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance: you’re allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) over any period of 3 years
- COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance: you’re allowed up to £1,900,000;
- 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, provided certain conditions are met
Grants under these three allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £12,235,000 (subject to certain conditions being met).
Tax
All grant income will need to be included as income within HMRC Tax returns. Only businesses that make overall profit once grant income is included will be subject to tax and should be included within the financial year up to 6 April 2022.
Fraud prevention
Personal information provided to claim Business Grant payments may be shared with fraud prevention agencies. This is to prevent fraud and money laundering, and to verify people’s identity. If fraud is detected, you could be refused certain services, finance or employment. More details can be found on the Cifas website.
