Some cafes and restaurants could begin to partially reopen from July 4 "at the very earliest", Boris Johnson's deputy said today.
Dominic Raab confirmed the exact starting date that has been pencilled in for when the cash-starved industry may finally start to open its doors.
But it's understood any reopenings will be severely limited, possibly only to outdoor cafe and restaurant dining areas where customers can sit 2 metres apart.
And government officials made clear pubs and beer gardens had almost no chance of being in the first wave of reopenings in July.
There is still no date for pubs, bars, nightclubs or other close-contact environments like gyms and swimming pools to reopen.
It comes after Boris Johnson unveiled three stages of reopenings in his 'roadmap' for easing lockdown.
The first stage from this Wednesday will see some lockdown restrictions eased in England - with people able to take unlimited exercise and go for a drive.
The second stage from June 1 at the earliest will see primary schools and some 'non-essential' shops begin to reopen.
Then the third stage from July 4 at the earliest will see some venues in the hospitality industry partially reopen.
It is understood other public spaces such as cinemas and places of worship could also reopen in this wave.
All reopenings would be conditional on firms keeping people 2 metres apart - and any dates could well be put back if the plan to "control the virus" slips.
Boris Johnson said last night: "Step three - at the earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing."
Today Foreign Secretary Mr Raab said the government was looking at "July 4 at the very earliest" for phase three.
He said those sectors are "inherently more difficult because people are mixing together and its difficult to maintain social distancing.
"We wouldn’t be able to say… that we would start them at least, at least until July 4.
“We’ll see where we get to”.
Asked on Sky News if his comments meant pubs and restaurants could begin to reopen from July 4, Mr Raab replied: "What we’re saying is those wouldn’t even be considered until step 3."
Boris Johnson last night announced the first steps to easing the lockdown he imposed seven weeks ago to deal with coronavirus.
People in England will be allowed to exercise more than once a day, sit and sunbathe in parks and on beaches, and go for a drive from Wednesday.
But the vast majority of rules imposed on March 23 remain in place - as Mr Johnson warned "this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week."
Schools and all non-essential shops will remain shut until at least June, with pubs expected to be closed beyond July.
And with the risk that the virus could run rampant again, the fine for breaching remaining rules will be almost doubled to £100, up to a cap of £3,200.
The government will use a five level 'alert' system to decide when to ease or tighten restrictions.
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical.
Level Four needs a lockdown, Level Three means there can be some easements to lockdown, and Level Two means coronavirus is present but the number of transmissions is low.
More details will be published in the government's coronavirus 'roadmap' at 2pm.
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