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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Owen Hughes

Pub and restaurant rules for Wales once indoor reopening starts

The hospitality sector has finally had its indoor reopening date in Wales - pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants set to open again on May 17.

This is a provisional timescale with a Senedd election approaching but the three main parties - Welsh Labour, Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru - are all on the same page on this date.

But First Minister Mark Drakeford made clear today that as expected there would still be restrictions in place on trading.

When it came to meeting inside he said that this would come with a rule of 4 being able to meet - although this could be subject to change depending on the next Welsh Government.

The two metre rule between tables stays but there is flexibility on this for businesses who cannot viably trade this way although it means extra mitigation like good ventilation and potentially screens.

There won't be any curfew though or 'substantial meal' rule with alcohol sales.

UKHospitality Cymru said there was "recognition of difficulties for traders".

They asked for "common sense and pragmatic, reasonable practice and enforcement".

Mr Drakeford said: "I do think we are in for a better summer.

First Minister Mark Drakeford (Polly Thomas/Getty Images)

"This will still be carried out under the coronavirus regulations so when we talk about the reopening of indoor hospitality it will be four people who will be able to meet up together.

"Coronavirus has not gone away in Wales.

"While we can all look forward a summer that is a lot better than the winter we have all just had to live through it does not mean we can afford to behave in ways that puts us at risk."

He said they were looking at social distancing requirements all the time and engaged in a joint UK exercise on this.

He added: "The rules we have for hospitality rules in wales are indeed that there should be a two metre distance but where venues are not able to operate in that way that doesn't mean they can't open at all, it's that they have to have additional mitigating measures in place to compensate for the fact that a two metre distance cannot always be achieved."

All premises will also be expected to continue to collect contact details, carry out a coronavirus risk assessment, limit numbers indoors, provide table service only, ensure ventilation, and ensure adherence to social distancing.

He paid tribute to the sector who have "worked so hard" to put mitigation measures in place.

He added that no one wanted to see coronavirus "catching fire" again and the government having to take the "blunt action" taken at the end of last year.

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