Bars and restaurants to get high street voucher lift

Bars, restaurants and hotels throughout Northern Ireland are expected to feel the boon of a £145 million high street voucher scheme unveiled by Economy Minister Diane Dodds.

Every adult in Northern will be able to apply for a £100 voucher, with the aim to encourage spending at retail and hospitality outlets which have been badly hit by lockdown measures.

Crucially, the cards cannot be used for internet shopping.

Mrs Dodds , below, said: “I am optimistic because the reopening of our economy is the most important first step towards economic recovery.

“Our High Street Stimulus scheme will provide a timely boost to this recovery – it will provide eligible applicants with a pre-paid card worth £100.

“This means up to 1.4 million people will spend an extra £140m on our high streets rather than online.

“This has a multiplier effect which will help bring many more customers back through the doors of local retail, hospitality and other sectors.”

It is anticipated the scheme will open before the end of the summer.

Mrs Dodds also outlined a holiday-at-home voucher scheme which will allow households to claim back 50% off a stay of two nights or more, up to the value of £100.

Vouchers will also be issued, offering 50% off visits to attractions or tourism experience providers, up to the value of £20.

These will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and each household could apply for one of each type of voucher.

Mrs Dodds added: “These are important ways of stimulating the economy, of creating demand and trying to rebuild and recover.”