Guidance

Check if your nightclub, dance hall or adult entertainment business is eligible for a coronavirus grant due to national restrictions

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Sector)) supports businesses that have been closed due to the national restrictions.

This guidance was withdrawn on

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Sector) scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. If you haven’t received your payment by 30 April 2021 please contact your local council.

Applies to England

Businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions introduced in March 2020, and which have not been able to re-open, may be eligible for LRSG (Sector) funding.

Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14 day period they are closed.

This funding is available from 1 November 2020 and is not retrospective.

Application deadline

The deadline to apply for the LRSG (Sector) scheme is 31 March 2021.

Eligibility

Eligible businesses include:

  • nightclubs, dance halls, and discotheques
  • adult entertainment venues and hostess bars

Your business may be eligible if it:

  • is based in England
  • occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
  • has been closed since 23 March 2020 because of national restrictions

Eligible businesses can get one grant per non-domestic property.

Businesses excluded from the fund

You cannot get funding if:

  • you have re-opened as another type of business (for example, changing a nightclub to a bar)
  • your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
  • you have exceeded the permitted subsidy limit

You must notify your local council if your situation changes and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, for example, if you become insolvent.

Subsidy allowance

The new domestic subsidy allowance for the COVID-19 business support grants took effect on 4 March 2021. Applications made prior to that date are subject to the previous rules.

This scheme is covered by 3 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 £1,600,000
  • 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 £9,000,000, provided certain conditions are met

Grants under these 3 allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £10,935,000 (subject to exchange rates).

What you get

The grant will be based on the rateable value of your property on 1 November 2020.

If your business has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £667 for each 14 day period your business is closed.

If your business has a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £1,000 for each 14 day period your business is closed.

If your business has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, you may be eligible for a cash grant of £1,500 for each 14 day period your business is closed.

The grant will be extended to cover each additional 14-day period of closure. If your business is closed for 28-days, or 2 payment cycles, it will receive £1,334, £2,000 or £3,000, depending on the rateable value of the property.

How to apply

Visit your local council’s website to find out how to apply.

Published 12 November 2020
Last updated 8 March 2021 + show all updates
  1. Grant scheme closing date and details of new subsidy allowance confirmed.

  2. The subsidy control / state aid conditions for this scheme have not changed following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020: more information will be available shortly.

  3. Guidance amended to reflect the UK’s updated state aid agreement with the EU Commission.

  4. First published.