Pubs and restaurants can claim more help from the government after incomes were slashed during the pandemic.

The government’s hospitality transition support scheme offers eligible businesses and self-employed people a single grant payment equivalent to the value of three years’ rates associated with their commercial premises.

To be eligible, applicants must declare that their turnover has been materially impacted by at least 25% over the course of the pandemic.

The scheme has been designed to support businesses and self-employed individuals in the hospitality and catering sectors, throughout the months of June, July and August 2021 as the borders open. Applications will close on July 30.

The issue of pubs’ income being hit hard prompted a meeting of representatives of the trade earlier this month and warnings that some venues would be forced to close.

Email the Department for Enterprise at [email protected] or phone 687333.