Royal Greenwich Hospitality Recovery Grant

Published: Thursday, 25th February 2021

The Council is backing its hospitality businesses with a life raft of grants ringfenced specifically for pubs, restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

The Hospitality Recovery Grant will launch on Thursday 25 February with up to £3million available in grants of £10,000, £15,000 or £25,000 for businesses whose core business is serving customers seated to eat and drink in their premises.   

This builds on the 500 businesses the Council has already helped across a range of sectors with £2.7million worth of Additional Restrictions Grants administered on behalf of the Government since last November. These have been helping closed businesses that didn’t qualify for other grant schemes or businesses that can remain open but have been adversely impacted by the national restrictions. Across all grant schemes being managed by the Council, 6,500 grant payments have already been made to businesses totalling over £13.8 million.

Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:   

“Pubs, restaurants and hotels are an integral part of the identity and economy of our borough. They bring life and a vibrancy to our local high streets and can make a place a must visit destination as well as being major employers and helping keep our economy afloat.   

When we have come so far, and are beginning to see things improve, now is not the time to stand by and let them wither. When we can meet each other again we’ll want to eat, drink and laugh in our favourite café, restaurant or pub - so we have to ensure they’ll still exist then.”  

Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy & Skills, said:   

“We know we can target over 150 businesses in Royal Greenwich in the hospitality sector immediately as many pubs, sports clubs and restaurants have already been accessing some support through other Council schemes. The Hospitality Recovery Grant will ensure they are given a much-needed boost so they can reopen when restrictions are lifted.” 

“If you’re a business that’s eligible for our Hospitality Recovery Grant and you haven’t already heard from us then please get in touch.”

Lesley and Keith Tuckley, landlady and landlord of The Earl of Chatham, Woolwich 

“The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been really helpful – in fact they haven’t been able to do enough to help us as small business owners. The Hospitality Recovery Grant will make such a difference and we can’t wait until we can re-open and welcome back our customers.” 

Alison Crow, Better Body Group, personal trainers based in Blackheath, who received a business grant through a previous scheme, said:  

“Myself and our clients would like to say a really huge thank you for the grant money we received, it hopefully means we can hang on in there. As we have the sports field to use, our clients who would have no other contact with others during this period who do experience mental challenges in normal life are still able to come along and keep moving. This really does make the world of difference and is very much appreciated.”  

Levels of grant  

The level of Hospitality Recovery Grant available is based on a business’s rateable value determined by the rental value of their premises calculated by the Valuation Office Agency.   

Rateable value  

Amount  

Below £15,000  

£10,000  

£15,001 to £50,999   

£15,000  

Over £51,000  

£25,000  

Criteria  

To qualify for Hospitality Recovery Grant funding, businesses receiving the grant must be the business rate payer for the premises affected and operate in the following business sectors:  

  • Public houses, bars and wine bars  
  • Café and restaurants (where the substantive part of the business operations is focussed towards providing a table service or the café is located within a public park).    
  • Licensed function venues such as a banqueting venue or sports club  
  • Hotels and bed & breakfasts  

To ensure that the limited funding helps as many distinct businesses as possible, businesses with common directors but multiple sites in the borough will only be eligible for a single grant.  

Apply for a Hospitality Recovery Grant now