Bexley Council is backing pubs and other small businesses significantly hit by coronavirus restrictions this winter.

Several additional grant schemes have been put together to support specific sectors of local business.

If your business is in the hospitality, accommodation or leisure sectors and you have been required to close or been impacted by the move into Tier 2 (17 October–4 November & 2–15 December) or Tier 3/4 (16 December onwards) the council say you may be eligible for a restriction grant payment based upon the rateable value of your premises and qualifying criteria.

There is also a Christmas support payment for wet-led pubs of £1,000 available in December. To be eligible the pub will need to certify that they receive less than 50 per cent of their income from food sales.

You can find further information or make an application for these grants here.

Additional Restrictions Grant

As well as the new local grants, Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding has been introduced to help businesses that are not eligible for any of the other support grants, as well as those operating in sectors that are particularly vulnerable.

News Shopper: Councillor Louie FrenchCouncillor Louie French

Councillor Louie French, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth at London Borough of Bexley said: “We are pleased to be able to open three further sources of funding schemes for small and micro businesses who don’t qualify for other funding and for those hit hardest by Covid.”

“We are particularly keen to support the leisure and hospitality sector, especially independent pubs, bars and licensed sports and social clubs that are so important to our town centres and local communities. If you think you may be eligible for any of these grants, please act quickly and apply via our website, taking care to provide full and accurate information.”

The Bexley ARG scheme comprises four grants for specific categories of business: non-ratepayer businesses closed due to the recent national lockdown; businesses indirectly impacted by lockdown closures; one-person businesses who can demonstrate significant hardship as a result of Covid19 and a top-up support package for independent pubs, bars and licensed sports and social clubs.

Eligible businesses could receive a grant between £1,000 and £14,000 depending on the type and size of the business.

Applicants for all grants must have a trading address in Bexley and will need to provide evidence to show that their business income has dropped significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Grants will be awarded to eligible businesses or organisations on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Due to the expected volume of applications, the Council will not be contacting unsuccessful applicants.

Applications for the ARG will be accepted online from Friday 18 December until 5pm on 8 January at Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).