Additional Financial Support Announced For Nightclubs

Additional support for nightclubs which will see venues receive payments of up to £36,500, has been announced by Finance Minister, Conor Murphy.

Nightclubs have been the businesses which have experienced the greatest degree of restrictions put in place by the Executive to control the spread of the Coronavirus. When other hospitality businesses were able to reopen between May and October, nightclubs remained closed, but financial support from the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS) stopped.

Land & Property Services (LPS) has been working with Hospitality Ulster and other government departments to agree a definition of a nightclub. LPS has identified the venues which meet that definition and should receive a payment equivalent to the amount they would have received from the LRSS between May and October.

Visiting Thompsons Garage nightclub in Belfast which will benefit from the additional payment, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "Throughout the pandemic nightclubs have been subject to additional restrictions and closures above and beyond those faced by other hospitality businesses.

"By working closely with Hospitality Ulster to agree how to define a nightclub, Land & Property Services has been able to accurately identify the businesses that have been affected by the tougher restrictions and provide them with this additional financial support.

"This is on top of the Omicron Hospitality Payment as well as the 24 months rates holiday my Department is providing to these establishments. These measures will ensure this vital part of our night time economy is supported."

Welcoming the support for nightclubs, Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster said: "This additional funding will be positively received by the nightclub industry who has been struggling for nearly two years as a result of closures and mandated restrictions. We thank the Minister for acknowledging the position of the nightclub industry and his Department for working with us to ensure that this support package was made available to those most in need of resources as they begin to open back up.

"This funding will go some way to reduce the debt burden of the individual nightclubs as they begin to plan for their recovery and ensure customers can be welcomed back to the vibrant nightlife industry of pre pandemic times. The hospitality sector was the one of the worst affected during the pandemic and nightclubs the worst impacted of all. This financial support will provide some relief and we look forward to working with the Minister and his Executive colleagues as we begin to regroup and push ahead with the revitalisation of the sector."