The Restart Grant scheme, which replaces all National Lockdown Business Support Grants, is payable from the 1 April and aims to support businesses registered for Business Rates that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed business rate-paying premises, in the below sectors;

• Non-essential retail
• Hospitality
• Accommodation
• Leisure
• Personal care
• Gym & Sport

The Restart Grant is split into two strands. Under Strand One, grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to non-essential retail business premises, to help them reopen safely. Under Strand Two, grants of up to £18,000 will be paid to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business , which may open later under plans set out in the Governments roadmap and will be more impacted by restrictions when they do reopen.

  Please note: Applications for this grant close on Wednesday 30th June 2021.

Non-Essential Retail

For the purposes of this scheme, a non-essential retail business is defined as a business that is used mainly or wholly for the purposes of retail sale or hire of goods or services by the public, where the primary purpose of products or services provided are not necessary to the health and well-being of the public.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• Businesses offering in-person non-essential retail to the general public.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their retail operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example the buying and selling goods,  managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Betting offices, Departmental stores, Markets (other than livestock), Sales kiosks, kitchen, bathroom, tile and glazing Showrooms, Tobacco and vape stores, Antiques stores, Sales offices, Travel agents, Electronic goods and mobile phone, shops, Clothes shops, Book shops. Auction rooms, Car auction, Car showrooms, Car supermarkets, Car washes (standalone), Car/caravan Sales/display/hiring Sites, Charity shops, Carpet stores, Furniture shops, Sofa shops, Homeware shops, Florists, Plant nurseries, Jewellers, Stationery shops, Gift shops, Make-up shops, Animal groomers, Photography studios

Who is excluded

Food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, corners shops, off licences, breweries, pharmacies, chemists, newsagents, animal rescue centres and boarding facilities, building merchants, petrol stations, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire businesses, education providers including tutoring services, banks, building societies and other financial providers, post offices, funeral directors, laundrettes and dry cleaners, medical practices, veterinary surgeries and pet shops, agricultural supply shops, garden centres, storage and distribution facilities, wholesalers, employment agencies and businesses, office buildings, automatic car washes and mobility support shops.

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.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• Businesses offering in-person food and drink services to the general public to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on Thursday 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example buying and selling goods in order to generate turnover, managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Food courts, Public houses/pub restaurants, Restaurants, Roadside restaurants,  Wine bars, Cafes.

Who is excluded

Businesses whose main service 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 days and nights out.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• Businesses that may provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example the buying and selling goods,  managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Bingo halls, Bowling alleys, Casinos and gambling clubs, Cinemas, Museums and art galleries, Roller skating rings, Theatres, Conference centres, Exhibition centres including for use as banquet halls and other events, Wedding venues, Events venues, Heritage railways, Public halls, Night clubs & discotheques, Hostess bars, Sexual entertainment venues, Shisha bars, Tourist attractions, Amusement arcades including adult gaming centres, Soft play centres or areas, Indoor riding centres, Clubs & institutions, Village halls & scout huts, cadet huts etc.

Who is excluded

All retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators and telescopes.

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.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• 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.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example the buying and selling goods,  managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Caravan parks, Country house hotels, Guest & 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.

Personal Care

For the purposes of this scheme, a personal care business can be defined as a business which  provides a service, treatment or activity for the purposes of personal beauty, hair, grooming, body care and aesthetics, and wellbeing.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• Businesses that deliver in-person holistic, beauty and hair treatments
• Businesses that provide services such as tattoos and piercings.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example the buying and selling goods,  managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Spas, sauna and steam rooms, Hairdressing salons, Tanning salons, Nail salons, Massage centres, massage treatments, Tattoo and piercing studios, Holistic therapy (reflexology, massage, acupuncture), Barbers, groomers, Beauty salons, Beauticians, aesthetics, Other non-surgical treatments.

Who is excluded

Businesses that only provide personal care goods, rather than services; businesses used solely as training centres for staff, apprentices and others; businesses providing dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services which incorporate personal care services, treatments required by those with disabilities and services relating to mental health.

Gym & Sport

For the purposes of this scheme, a gym & sport business can be defined as a commercial or non-profit establishment where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis, using exercise equipment or open floor space with or without instruction, or where individual and group sporting, athletic and physical activities are participated in competitively or recreationally.

The local authority will use the following criteria to assess eligibility:

• Businesses that offer in-person exercise and sport activities to the general public.
• Businesses that open to members of the public paying an entry or membership fee.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses trading on 1 April 2021: For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. For example the buying and selling goods,  managing accounts, preparing for reopening, planning and implementing COVID-safe measures.   

Who is included

Dance schools and centres, Dance studios, Gymnasia/fitness suites, Cricket centres, Ski centres, Sports and leisure centres, Outdoor sports centres, Outdoor adventure centres, Squash courts, Tennis centres, Sports courts, Swimming pools, Shooting and archery, venues, Driving ranges, Water sport centres, Golf courses.

Who is excluded

Home gyms, home exercise studios, home sports courts and home sports grounds.

Further exclusions to all grant eligibility

• Businesses that are not within the ratings system on 1 April 2021 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.

How much will you receive

Strand One – Non-essential retail premises.

The following thresholds apply for these businesses:

• Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under will receive a payment of £2,667
• Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of 4,000
• Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above will receive £6,000  

Strand Two – Hospitality, Accommodation, Leisure, Personal care and Gym business.

The following thresholds apply for these businesses:

• Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under will receive a payment of £8,000
• Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of 12,000
• Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above will receive £18,000  

How to apply

Please note this grant is now closed.

Before you apply, you must have the following information available to complete your application:

• An electronic version of your latest bank statement.
• Evidence that your business was trading on 1 April 2021
• Evidence that your business was occupying the property on 1 April 2021
• Proof of identification. In the case of a sole trader / partnership please provide your personal identification. In the case of a Ltd company please provide evidence of your company
• Your business premises property reference number. This can be obtained from the Valuations Office Agency (VOA)

Further information on the Restart Grants can be found at Gov.uk