25/02/2022

Businesses Urged To Apply For Omicron Hospitality Payment

Businesses who have not yet applied for the Omicron Hospitality Payment are being urged to do so before the scheme closes at 23:59 on Friday 4 March 2022.

To date, £34.1 million has issued to 2,731 businesses from the Department of Finance's Omicron Hospitality Payment.

Under the scheme, hotels, restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, bistros, snack bars, nightclubs, pubs, and social clubs are eligible for a one-off grant payment of either £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 based on their rateable value. Sport clubs with a licensed bar or restaurant and soft play venues, trampoline parks and inflatable parks with a café on their premises are also eligible for a one-off £10,000 payment.

Visiting Roar and Explore soft play in West Belfast which received the Omicron Hospitality Payment, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, said: "In recent weeks I have visited a range of different businesses which have benefitted from the Omicron Hospitality Payment. From speaking with business owners, it's clear the scheme has been invaluable in helping them as they work to recover from the impact Omicron had on their Christmas trade.

"My Department has delivered £34.1 million of support to over 2,700 businesses. We believe around 450 businesses who might be eligible for the funding haven't applied yet. I'm keen to ensure that no eligible business misses out on this grant and would appeal to them – don't delay, apply today."


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 January 2022
Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme Extended
The Omicron Hospitality Payment scheme will be extended to include hotels and certain sports clubs, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has announced. Under the scheme, following Executive agreement, hotels will be eligible for a one-off grant between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on their rateable value.
18 January 2022
Omicron Hospitality Payment Package 'Falls Short'
The Executive's Omicron Hospitality Payment package does not support all businesses affected by the current restrictions, the Green Party NI's Rachel Woods MLA has said. The North Down MLA said: "The £40 million funding package announced before Christmas only involved a one-off grant to hospitality businesses.
09 February 2022
Finance Minister Announces Extension Of Omicron Hospitality Payment
The Omicron Hospitality Payment has been extended to include soft play businesses as well as inflatable and trampoline parks, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has announced. The move will see venues each receive a one-off £10,000 payment if they have a café on the premises.
19 January 2022
Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme Gets Underway
Land & Property Services has begun contacting hospitality businesses to confirm their details to enable the Omicron Hospitality Payment to be made.
14 February 2022
One Hundred Hotels Receive Support Payments Of Almost £2m
Almost £2 million has been paid out to 100 hotels in just over two weeks from the Department of Finance's Omicron Hospitality Payment. Finance Minister Conor Murphy met with representatives from the NI Hotels Federation and hoteliers at Armagh City Hotel.