Welsh hospitality to reopen when firebreak lockdown ends next week

The Welsh government has confirmed all premises, such as restaurants, cafés and pubs, that were closed during the firebreak, will be able to reopen when the lockdown comes to an end at 00:01 on 9 November.

The hospitality industry has welcomed the announcement, although there had been concerns expressed over the lateness of the confirmation, with operators saying they needed more time to plan with staff to rota and guests to inform.

UKHospitality Cymru executive director David Chapman said: “It is good to see that hospitality businesses in Wales will be reopening, albeit under much more severe restrictions than are being applied in other parts of the economy.

“For the time being, businesses will have to engage with the new rules and make the best possible success of them before, hopefully, moving towards a better arrangement.

“The impact these new restrictions have on the viability of our businesses is going to be key. The Welsh government must ensure it fully reviews the restrictions in two weeks as indicated. We need to give our financially devastated hospitality businesses the best possible chance of survival while ensuring that public health is not compromised.”

There will be no travel restrictions inside Wales but during the month-long lockdown in England, travel will not be permitted outside Wales without a reasonable excuse. The 10pm restrictions on alcohol sales will also remain in place.

Yesterday, while discussing hospitality premises, first minister Mark Drakeford said: “Our clear advice to people in Wales is that we should visit these places in as small a group as possible, and, for many, this will only be the people we live with. But we have listened carefully to what young people and single people especially have told us about how important it is to be able to meet some friends and other family members.

“Our intention is that the regulations will allow groups of up to four people to meet in a regulated setting such as a restaurant, café or pub, but that this will be subject to strict protections discussed with the hospitality sector, including advance booking, time-limited slots and verified identification.”

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