English pubs have been ordered to close for four weeks when the country enters its second national lockdown, with it hoped the ‘circuitbreaker’ will drive down the rate of coronavirus infection.
The Local Restrictions Support Grant, which had helped businesses ordered to close in local tier three lockdowns, is available for businesses required to close in national measures.
The grants will be based on business rates, similar to the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) available for the first lockdown last spring.
Eligibility criteria
However this time pubs with rateable values of £51,000 or over will be able to access a grant.
Here’s what pubs can be eligible for:
- For properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks.
- For properties with a rateable value of between £15,000 to £51,000 grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks.
- For properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
Grants will be divvied out by local authorities and operators should see what information is available on their local council website.
Government ministers have suggested the lockdown – set to be reviewed on 2 December – could continue for longer than four weeks if the rate of infection has not been reduced enough.
Tough winter ahead
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said £1.1bn would be provided to local authorities for one-off payments to support businesses in particular need.
A furlough scheme will be available for those who cannot continue to work, with employees able to receive 80% of wages for hours not worked.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "Over the past eight months of this crisis we have helped millions of people to continue to provide for their families. But now – along with many other countries around the world – we face a tough winter ahead.
"I have always said that we will do whatever it takes as the situation evolves. Now, as restrictions get tougher, we are taking steps to provide further financial support to protect jobs and businesses. These changes will provide a vital safety net for people across the UK."
