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American Express Small Restaurants Grant Programme Returns for 2025
Food Businesses Across London and Manchester Could Win Up To £11,000 Each
Who Can Apply: Greater London and Greater Manchester based independent food businesses including restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs. Full eligibility criteria can be found in the Terms and Conditions.
Deadline for Applications: 4.59am, 1st July 2025
Grant Amount: £11,000 each for 20 businesses
Additional Information: Download FAQs here, or visit the webpage of the IDA Foundation.
How to Communicate to Businesses: To download our press release for circulation to businesses, click here.
Small independent restaurants in London and Manchester can now apply for a share of £220,000 to help grow their business as an American Express-supported grant programme returns for a fourth year to the UK.
Run by the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation in partnership with the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) in the UK, the global 'Backing International Small Restaurants' programme continues its expansion with cities such as Mexico City, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Auckland, Tokyo and Osaka all part of the programme.
Barcelona joins 14 other cities for the first time this year
To be eligible, businesses must:
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Be currently open for business, in operation for more than one year and have a brick and mortar location/storefront. (Online-only or app-based businesses are not eligible).
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Be a small/independently-owned restaurant, café, bar or pub with food offering and not part of a franchise with more than 5 locations.
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Have a 2024 annual revenue below market-specific thresholds. See FAQs and Terms & Conditions here for more information.
Prior grant recipients of the ‘Backing International Small Restaurant’ programme are not eligible for consideration.
Oitij-Jo Kitchen in London was one of last year's successful applicants. The female-led social enterprise specialising in traditional, handmade Bangladeshi cuisine.
Deptford based restaurant Buster Mantis was one of six London grant winners in 2023. For the full list of grant winners across 2022 and 2023, click here.
Bury-based Wax and Beans invested in its kitchen and outside seating area
ATCM is urging members in London and Manchester to spread the word to as many in the hospitality sector as possible. The scheme has tangible benefits for high street businesses.
2024’s Greater Manchester winners included Bury-based café Wax and Beans, upgraded its kitchen and expanded its outside seating area.
Commenting on the impact of the grant, they said: “Receiving the Backing International Small Restaurants grant last year has allowed us to invest in upgrading our kitchen, as well as extending the outdoor dining area so that even more people can enjoy great coffee, food, and, of course, some excellent music, in the sun. The grant has made a real difference towards our mission of being a community hub and providing people a place to relax and socialise.”
Dan Edelman, General Manager of UK Merchant Services at American Express, said:
“It’s thrilling to see the grant programme return to the UK once again, supporting independent restaurants in Manchester and London. These venues bring people together and contribute so much to local communities. Our hope is that these grants will help businesses grow, innovate, and continue to thrive into the future.”
David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation, said:
“The IDA Foundation is excited to partner once again with American Express to launch the fourth year of the Backing International Small Restaurants programme. To empower these vital community anchors to thrive, this initiative provides essential support to the independent restaurants that are the heart and soul of our downtowns.”
Don't delay. Encourage you businesses to apply today.
