Apply for the business rates expanded retail discount for occupied retail, leisure and hospitality premises. Eligible premises will receive a discount of up to 100% on their bill for the 2020/21 financial year.
If your business falls into any of the following categories, or is not listed but is broadly similar to the ones listed here, you are eligible for this discount. However, your premises must be occupied and wholly, or mainly, used to sell goods, services or food and drink to visiting members of the public.
Premises eligible for the discount
Select the main function of your business from the list below, to read details about eligibility.
Premises used to sell goods to visiting members of the public:
- Shops (for example, florists, bakers, butchers, grocers, greengrocers, jewellers, stationers, off licences, chemists, hardware stores, newsagents, supermarkets, charity shops)
- Opticians
- Post Offices
- Garden centres
- Furnishing shops or display rooms (for example, carpet shops, shops selling double glazing or garage doors)
- Car or caravan show rooms
- Second-hand car lots
- Markets
- Petrol stations
- Art galleries (where art is for sale or hire)
Premises used to sell food and drink to visiting members of the public:
- Restaurants
- Takeaways
- Sandwich shops
- Coffee shops
- Pubs
- Bars
Premises used to provide the following services to visiting members of the public:
- Hair and beauty services (for example, hairdressers, nail bars, beauty salons, tanning shops)
- Shoe repairs or key cutting
- Travel (for example, travel agents)
- Tickets (for example, ticket offices for theatres)
- Dry cleaning
- Property or rental services such as estate agents and letting agents
- Launderette services
- PC, TV or domestic appliance repairs
- Funeral services such as funeral directors
- Photo processing
- DVD or video rentals
- Tool hire
- Car hire
Premises being used as live music venues, which are premises wholly or mainly used for the performance of live music for the purpose of entertaining an audience.
Premises providing sports and leisure facilities for visiting members of the public:
- Sports grounds and clubs
- Museums
- Art galleries
- Nightclubs
- Sport and leisure facilities
- Theatres
- Tourist attractions
- Gyms
- Stately homes and historic houses
Premises being used as cinemas are also eligible for this discount.
Premises being used for the assembly of visiting members of the public:
- Public halls
- Clubhouses
- Clubs
- Institutions
- Bingo halls
Where the non-domestic part is being used for the provision of living accommodation as a business.
- Hotels
- Guesthouses
- Boarding houses
- Holiday homes
- Caravan parks and sites
Premises not eligible for the discount
Premises which are not reasonably accessible for members of the public to visit, or those which are not mainly used for the qualifying purpose, are not eligible for this discount.
Examples of businesses not eligible
- Financial services (for example, banks, building societies, cash points, bureau de change, payday lenders, betting shops, pawn brokers)
- Medical services (for example, vets, dentists, doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors)
- Casinos
- Gambling clubs
- Post Office sorting offices
- Professional services (for example, solicitors, accountants, tutors, insurance agents, financial advisers)
- Employment agencies
Apply for the discount
If you already receive a business rates retail discount, you do not need to apply, as the additional discount will be added automatically. However, if you have not received this discount previously and are eligible based on the above examples, please complete our online application form.
Apply onlineAdditional support for businesses
Invest in Bath is co-ordinating support services to local businesses in light of the COVID-19 public health situation. They will be sharing further information regarding targeted business support and financial assistance, as and when further schemes are announced. If you do have specific concerns, questions or needs at this time, please email info@investinbath.co.uk
For other Government COVID-19 Business Support initiatives please visit Invest in Bath's COVID-19 page