New support grants are being paid to hospitality businesses in Bromsgrove District who’ve seen their pre-Christmas periods hit by the effects of the Omicron variant.

The money will be paid from the £1.2m remaining in Government pandemic money provided to support district businesses this financial year, called the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

Hospitality businesses that have not yet received an ARG grant are urged to email businessgrants@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk for advice without delay.

Hospitality businesses that have already received an ARG grant this year do not need to do anything and will automatically receive the latest grant payment based on their original application.

The Government has since announced additional funding for this purpose, above what is contained in this news release. Here is more information about the support that is now available.

Cllr Geoff Denaro, Bromsgrove District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling, said: “Our immediate priority now is to get support to as many smaller independent hospitality businesses as possible, where they have been severely impacted at this critical time of year by the spread of the Omicron variant.

“We know that pubs and restaurants are seeing seasonal trade well down owing to the ongoing pandemic, with the combined impact of staff absences and people choosing to stay at home and limit their social activities at this time. These grants are designed to help.”

The ARG is one of several schemes the Government has put in place to support businesses at various points of the pandemic, administered by local authorities.