Applications for top-up funding for hospitality businesses affected by the pandemic opened last Thursday, July 22.

Stroud District Council is administering £1million-worth of Government Additional Restrictions Grants, having already distributed a total of £45million of grants and £3.5million of discretionary grants since the start of the pandemic.

Doina Cornell, leader of the Stroud District Council said: "The pandemic has been and continues to be an incredibly tough time for these sectors and we are doing all we can to support them through this.

"I would urge all eligible businesses to make an application as soon as possible so we can pay out the funds they need."

For the purpose of this scheme, hospitality is defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

Businesses must fall into one of the following sectors to be able to apply:

• Hospitality
• Travel and tourism sector, including group travel, travel agents and tour operators
• Wedding industries
• Nightclubs
• Theatres
• Events industries
• Taxis
• Wholesalers
• English language schools
• Breweries
• Freelance and mobile businesses (including caterers, events, hair, beauty and wedding related businesses)

Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment based on the number of successful applications received.

To apply please visit www.stroud.gov.uk/business/business-rates, email business.rates@stroud.gov.uk or call 01453 766321.