Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants - COVID-19 Grant - Scheme now closed
On 21 December 2021, the government announced a new grant scheme for hospitality and leisure businesses affected by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Applications are now closed.
Eligibility for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure grants
- businesses must have been trading as of 30 December 2021
- businesses must be rated for business rates
- businesses must not be in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice or under notice
- business premises must be occupied as of 30 December 2021, empty premises are not eligible for the grants
- 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 not have hit the maximum grants subsidy allowances.
- full details of the scheme can be found on gov.uk.
Grant Amounts
The amount of grant awarded is based on a properties rateable value (RV) as below:
| Propety RV | Amount of Grant Funding |
| 15, 000 and under | £2, 667 |
| 15, 001 to 50, 999 | £4, 000 |
| 51, 000 and over | £6, 000 |
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.
Fraud
The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud. Any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be recovered, as may any grants paid in error.
Basildon Borough Council will carry out pre payment checks on businesses and may ask for further information to help us ensure that grants are paid to the correct recipients.
Apply for a Omicron Hospitality and Leisure grant
Applications closed on 18 March 2022.
Hospitality Definition
A business whose main function is to provide a venue for the in-person (dine in) consumption and sale of food and drink, such as:
- Food courts
- Wine bars
- Public houses/pub restaurants
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Roadside restaurants
Exclusions
takeaways, where the business takes 50% or more of its income from takeaway sales
Leisure Definition
A business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events, days and nights out, betting and gaming such as:
- Casinos and gambling clubs
- Arenas
- Cinemas
- Concert halls
- Museums and art galleries
- Tourist attractions
- Stately homes and historic houses
- Theme parks
- Theatres
- Amusements arcades
- Zoos and safari parks
- Soft play centres or areas
- Amusement parks
- Indoor riding centres
- Wedding venues
- Clubs and institutions
- Events venues
- Village halls
- Night clubs and discotheques
- Scout huts, cadet huts etc.
Exclusions
All retail businesses, coach tour operators and tour operators, gyms and sports businesses where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis.
Accommodation Definiton
A business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes, such as:
- Caravan parks, caravan sites and pitches
- Lodges and boarding houses
- Chalet parks
- Holiday apartments, cottages or bungalows
- Coaching inns
- Campsites
- Country house hotels
- Canal boats or other vessels
- Guest houses
- B&Bs
- Hostels
- Catered holiday homes
- Hotels
- Holiday homes
Exclusions
private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts