Overview

The Victorian Government has announced additional, automatic payments for businesses that have received the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension. Top up payments announced from 28 July 2021 to the end of October 2021 are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

The additional, automatic payments are:

  • A top-up payment of $3000 announced on 16 July 2021.
  • A top-up payment of $4200 announced on 21 July 2021.
  • A top-up payment of between $5000 and $20,000, based on patron capacity, announced on 28 July 2021.
  • An additional $2000 payment for premises located in the CBD, announced on 28 July 2021.
  • A top-up payment of between $5000 and $20,000, based on patron capacity, announced on 6 August 2021.
  • A top-up payment of between $5000 and $20,000, for premises located in metropolitan Melbourne based on patron capacity, announced on 12 August 2021.
  • A top-up payment of between $10,000 and $40,000, based on patron capacity. This was announced for premises located in metropolitan Melbourne on 19 August 2021 and extended to regional Victorian premises on 22 August 2021.
  • Top-up payments of between $5000 and $20,000 per week based on patron capacity, announced on 4 September 2021. Hospitality businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.
  • Top-up payments of between $5000 and $20,000 per week based on patron capacity, announced on 30 September 2021. Fortnightly payments cover the period from 1 October to 29 October 2021.
  • Top-up payments of between $1750 and $7000 per week based on patron capacity, announced on 30 September 2021. Payments cover the period from 29 October to 13 November 2021.

Patron capacity will be as reflected on the liquor licence for the premises in July 2021.

The payments will be processed automatically by Business Victoria.

Each payment will be made separately.

For further information about these payments, please read all the information on this page, including the frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Read the full list of FAQs.

Who will receive the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 Top-Up payments?

To receive the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 Top-Up payments, businesses must have received the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension grant.

To receive the 28 July CBD payment, the premises must be located in Melbourne CBD (postcodes 3000, 3005, 3006 and 3008).

To receive the top-up payment announced on 12 August 2021 the premises must be located in metropolitan Melbourne.

Payment amounts are tiered according to premises capacity as specified on the liquor licence.

Businesses that have closed, have ceased to operate in Victoria or no longer hold an active liquor licence for the premises since their initial approval for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension will not be eligible for this support.

Payment amount

Eligible businesses will receive the following payments per eligible premises:

  • 16 July Top-Up: $3000 for each eligible premises.
  • 21 July Top-Up: $4200 for each eligible premises.
  • 28 July Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-199 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 200-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 28 July CBD payment:$2,000 for premises located in the following four Melbourne CBD postcodes:
    • 3000 (Melbourne)
    • 3005 (World Trade Centre)
    • 3006 (Southbank)
    • 3008 (Docklands)
  • 6 August Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-199 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 200-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 12 August Metropolitan Melbourne Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 19 August Top-Up:
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $40,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 4 September Top-Up:
    • $5000 per week for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 per week for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 per week for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
    • Hospitality businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.
  • 1 October to 29 October Top-Up:
    • $5000 per week for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 per week for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 per week for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 29 October to 13 November Top-Up:
    • $1750 per week for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $3500 per week for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $7000 per week for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.

Patron capacity will be as specified on the liquor licence for the premises in July 2021.

Please note the payments will be made separately.

Processing your payment

Business Victoria will automatically process the top-up payments for all recipients of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension.

The top-ups will be paid into the bank account nominated in your application to the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension.

How do I apply?

You do not need to apply. The top-up payments will be made automatically to all recipients of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension.

Please read all the information on this page and the frequently asked questions if you have questions about your eligibility.

If you cannot find the information you’re looking for, please call Business Victoria on 13 22 15, open seven days a week.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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You are eligible for the top-up payments if you received a grant from the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension, and you still operate the hospitality venue.

To be eligible for the CBD payment, your premises must be located in the CBD (postcodes 3000, 3005, 3006 and 3008).

To be eligible for the top-up payment announced on 12 August 2021 your premises must be located in metropolitan Melbourne.

Eligible businesses do not need to take any action. The payments will be processed automatically.

If you received a grant from the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension, you don’t need to do anything else. The payments will be processed automatically.

Eligible recipients will receive the top-up payments announced on 30 September in fortnightly payments across the six weeks from 1 October to 13 November 2021.

These payments are in line with the indicative timing in Victoria’s Roadmap and will be processed automatically. More information will be provided to recipients by email.

Eligible businesses will receive the following payments:

  • 16 July Top-Up: $3000 for Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 applicants only.
  • 21 July Top-Up: $4200 for Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 applicants only.
  • 28 July Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-199 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 200-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 28 July CBD Payment: $2,000 for premises located in the following four Melbourne CBD postcodes:
    • 3000 (Melbourne)
    • 3005 (World Trade Centre)
    • 3006 (Southbank)
    • 3008 (Docklands)
  • 6 August Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-199 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 200-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 12 August Metropolitan Melbourne Top-Up:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 19 August Top-Up:
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $40,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 4 September Top-Up Payments:
    • $5000 for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
    • Hospitality businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.
  • 1 October to 29 October Top-Up:
    • $5000 per week for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $10,000 per week for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $20,000 per week for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.
  • 29 October to 13 November Top-Up:
    • $1750 per week for premises with capacity for 0-99 patrons or patrons not specified.
    • $3500 per week for premises with capacity for 100-499 patrons.
    • $7000 per week for premises with capacity for 500+ patrons.

Please note the payments will be made separately.

Recipients with premises located in the following CBD postcodes will be eligible for the CBD payment:

  • 3000 (Melbourne)
  • 3005 (World Trade Centre)
  • 3006 (Southbank)
  • 3008 (Docklands)

If you are eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension and you still operate the hospitality venue, you will receive top-up payments.

Top-Up payment amounts are made to eligible Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension program recipients from 28 July 2021 based on patron capacity.

Patron capacity is as specified on the liquor licence for the premises in July 2021, as issued by the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation.

If the patron capacity is not specified on the liquor licence for the premises, the grant recipient will be paid the amount for the 0-199 capacity tier for 26 July and 6 August Top-Up payments and 0-99 patrons capacity tier for Top-Up payments from 12 August 2021.

If your venue’s patron capacity is not specified on your liquor licence, Business Victoria will consider details of patron capacity shown on your liquor licence renewal notice or planning permit issued for the premises by the local council for the purposes of determining the most appropriate payment for your venue.

Top-up payments were aligned with COVIDSafe Settings and the anticipated reopening dates in the Victorian Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.

Given that Victoria is now in Phase C of the Roadmap, the 29 October to 13 November payment is the final top-up to be made under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 program.

The 29 October to 13 November payment amount has been revised to reflect that licensed hospitality venues have been able to reopen ahead of schedule, however with restrictions to density limits and patron caps.

The revised payment amount is now the same rate for premises located in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.