Last call for Christmas grants for wet-led pubs

The deadline for one-off grants worth £1,000 for wet-led pubs which were forced to close due to tier three restrictions is 31 January 2021.

Cllr Ged Bell, cabinet member for employment and culture at Newcastle City Council said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve administered £80 million to local businesses to help support our local economy and protect jobs.

“We want to ensure that every business in Newcastle which is eligible for this grant receives it, to help mitigate for lost trade over the festive period, so we are urging businesses to act now.

“Our teams are waiting to process applications quickly to ensure fast access to this one-off funding.

“Sadly, the payments won’t make-up for lost takings over what is traditionally the busiest time of year for the hospitality sector and we will continue  to lobby government for more financial support for our business community.”

The £1,000 grants are available for pubs who derive less than half (50%) of their sales from food which were forced to close from 2 December when tier three restrictions came into force.

The council is urging businesses to apply online at www.newcastle.gov.uk/covidbusinesssupport before the deadline of 31 January.  Payments will be made within ten working days.