On Saturday 19th December the government placed Luton into new Tier 4: stay at home restrictions.

These restrictions then came into affect on Sunday 20th December.
To reduce social contact, the regulations require non-essential retailers, along with many hospitality and leisure businesses, to close or impose changes to how they provide goods and services.

Scroll down to ‘businesses and venues’ in the above link for further details on which businesses must close.

In summary:

  • all bars, pubs and restaurants must be closed with the exception of providing food and drink for takeaway (until 11pm), click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery
  • non-essential retail (including clothing, homeware, electronic goods, mobile phone shops and market stalls selling non-essential goods) must be closed, but can continue to operate click-and-collect from outside their premises and delivery
  • entertainment venues must be closed, personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons. tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close
  • all accommodation, including hotels and B&Bs, must be closed
  • community centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities

Essential retail should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers.

If your business premises is allowed to remain open, please remember the legal requirement for staff and customers to wear face coverings.

For further information please click HERE.

Grants and funding available to businesses

There are currently a number of active grant schemes to assist affected businesses.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant is for businesses closed during the second national lockdown in November.

There are also schemes for businesses impacted but not closed, and those which have been forced to close under tier 2 and tier 3 restrictions.

Additional support schemes for wet-led pubs, taxi and private hire drivers, retail hospitality, travel, leisure, aviation and events sectors are also available and open for applications.

Please visit the Luton Council website for a full list of schemes and how to apply HERE.

Further guidance from Central Government relating to additional grant support for affected businesses having to close under tier 4 regulations is expected.

December 22nd, 2020Press Releases

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