Pubs will reopen indoors on Monday
FROM Monday, cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to open indoors again.
The Welsh Government has confirmed its plan that, from Monday, May 17, hospitality venues can open inside. They have been allowed to reopen outside since April 26.
First Minister Mark Drakeford had said before the Senedd election that he believed venues would be able to reopen from Monday but said it would be the decision of whoever was elected on May 6.
With Labour taking control of the Senedd again, Mr Drakeford last night confirmed the rule change will indeed happen on Monday.
The Welsh Government had been coming under pressure from venues asking to be given more notice to allow them to reopen safely and to operate in a way that was economically viable.
In a letter the Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC), which
represents 400 venues across Wales, said the restrictions had not only killed off some businesses, but left those which could open making 50% of their normal turnover due to the 2m social-distancing rule and restriction on tables sizes and composition.
They asked for clarity on the rules under which they could reopen and the financial support from government.
Businesses say there was a “complete lack of financial support since the end of March”.
The Welsh Government has confirmed restaurants can reopen, while also giving details of a plan to give sums of between £2,500 and £25,000 each to “meet ongoing costs through to the end of June as they prepare for reopening and more normal trading conditions”.
The government says various businesses will be able to claim, including nightclubs and late entertainment venues; events and conference venues not already covered; hospitality and leisure businesses, including restaurants, pubs and cafes; and supply-chain businesses, which have been materially impacted by restrictions.
Mark Drakeford said: “The public health situation continues to improve in Wales – we have the lowest coronavirus rates and the best vaccination rates in the UK.
“We know the restrictions have helped to keep us all safe but they have had a big impact on Welsh businesses, which is why we are making more funding available to support firms and safeguard jobs.
“Eligible businesses will receive support of up to £25,000 as they prepare to reopen and move towards more normal trading conditions.
“My new government will provide more detail about the extra financial support we will be providing to businesses to help them develop and grow as Wales recovers from the impact of the pandemic.
“As we continue to relax the restrictions, I can confirm that from Monday, up to six people from six different households will be able to meet indoors in regulated settings, such as cafes and pubs.”
The Welsh Government says businesses will be able to submit applications by the end of the month and they will receive between £2,500 and £25,000 depending on their circumstances.
Funding will be calculated based on the size of the business and the type of restrictions they are under.
WIRC said in response: “We welcome the announcement that there will be parity between indoor and outdoor trading rules for hospitality, allowing six people from six households in both. We are pleased that Welsh Government has listened to our calls for simplicity and consistency in the rules, and we will continue to work with government to implement these.
“We also welcome the indication of further funding support and look forward to hearing the details of this in the days to come – it is clear funding is needed right now by many businesses to enable them to survive”.
The move comes as crowd events for festivals, sport, theatre and business will be trialled in Wales over the next four weeks to help plan the easing of the country’s coronavirus restrictions.
The series of nine pilot events will help the Welsh Government decide on when and how to safely allow larger gatherings of people later this year.
Cardiff’s Eid At The Castle celebration, which will mark the end of Ramadan for Muslims and can hold up to 500 people, is due to be the first test event, which will be held in the next couple of days, depending on the moon sighting.
On Saturday the Welsh arts and culture festival Tafwyl will cater to an audience of 500 people who are over 18 and live in Cardiff, with the event held outdoors at Cardiff Castle.
Attendees – who have already had to register – will be in parties of between four and six people, who will be required to bring a form of identification, take a PCR Covid test a maximum of five days before, as well as a rapid lateral flow test 24 hours before arrival.
Football play-off fixtures for Newport County, on May 18, and Swansea City, on May 22, will also be part of the trial, with crowd limits yet to be set, but Wales’ friendly against Albania at the Cardiff City Stadium on June 5 will allow up to 4,000 people.
Other crowd events include an indoor business conference in Newport on May 20 for 100 people, a theatre performance for 250 people in Powys, and up to 1,000 people at the Glamorgan v Lancashire cricket games between June 3 and 6 in Cardiff.
The final trial is the Fishguard Triathlon, held on June 11 and 12 at Fishguard and St Davids.