The Nightclub Closure Fund, which allows nightclubs to apply for a grant up to £55,000 is now open.
The Scottish Government has said that it will contact nightclubs that have already received COVID-19 funding and invite them to apply for the grant by the 14th January. Businesses which are registered as a nightclub but have never received COVID-19 funding through their local authority may also be eligible for this fund.
Once applications have been received nightclubs the grant payments should be received within14 days.
The grant is a one-off payment that scales with rateable value. This means that premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £40,000 will receive £25,000, premises which have a rateable value between £40,001 and £75,000 will receive £35,000 and premises which have a rateable value of £75,001 or above will receive £55,000. Individual ratepayers with more than one business may receive an award for each registered business entity.
To be eligible clubs must have been trading on 22 December 2021 and must have closed as a result of the restrictions currently in place before 23:59 on 31 December 2021.
The grant guidelines say that a nightclub is defined as an entertainment premise if it opens until at least 2am at the weekend (pre-COVID) and operates after 7pm. They must also have dance floor facilities, have a permanent DJ area and be licensed for recorded music. The full guidelines can be found here https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/funding/nightclub-closure-fund
If you have not been contacted or you have not previously received funding, you should email covidbusinesssupport@gov.scot
