Welsh hospitality to get more reopening clarity on Thursday

Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford has said he will set out the next steps for reopening on Thursday to give hospitality "the certainty that it's looking for".

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he said he would set out plans for the whole of April into May and that he hoped outdoor hospitality will be able to reopen by the end of April but meeting indoors will "likely have to wait until May".

Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en suite facilities and room service, were able to reopen over the weekend to people from the same household or support bubble.

The ‘stay local' rules was also lifted and unrestricted travel is now allowed within Wales, but non-essential travel to and from other UK nations is banned for at least two weeks.

The Welsh government has still given no roadmap for reopening indoor hospitality and only an approximate date of 22 April for outdoor service.

Hospitality operators say they face a struggle for survival without a clear opening date and financial support set to expire on 31 March. Businesses fear no further help will be announced until May due in part to upcoming Senedd elections, potentially leaving many without help at a critical time.

The Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) warned such a gap could be "catastrophic" for jobs and undermine all previous efforts to help businesses survive.

And speaking last week, UKHospitality Cymru executive director David Chapman said businesses were “frustrated and fearful for their existence” with many “hanging on by their fingernails financially” and urged the government to give a clear indication of a date when the sector can reopen.