A hospitality group has named the date it wants beer gardens and outdoor restaurant and cafe spaces reopened in Wales ahead of First Minister Mark Drakeford's latest coronavirus announcement on Thursday.
The First Minister says the update will provide greater clarity to the sector as calls are made for a hospitality roadmap like that given to retail, which is due to fully reopen on April 12.
Today Welsh Conservatives repeated their pledge first made last month to follow the UK Government roadmap out of lockdown - with all legal limits on social distancing removed by June 21 if the health situation allows.
Pressure is also growing on the Welsh Government to provide a funding update after Business Live revealed last week that firms may not get any update on support until after the Senedd election on May 6.
David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “We continue to press the Welsh Government for the vital financial support needed to see businesses through to reopening at a viable level and protect as many jobs as possible and we will be seeking further discussions this week to do so."
Mr Chapman also laid out the date the group wants the sector to start to reopen. Mr Drakeford has previously said outdoor hospitality is on the table from April 22 but as shown with retail this could mean waiting weeks from then before an actual opening date.
“Of course, the best way to ensure businesses survive is to get them open," said Mr Chapman.
"Let’s get outdoor hospitality open at the earliest day indicated on 23rd April and indoors to follow as quickly as possible.”
This hospitality industry has been desperate for clarity on reopening and details on funding with warnings firms are on the brink after a year of lockdowns and other restrictions.
The bosses of the restaurant chain Dylan's wrote an open letter to First Minister Mark Drakeford - warning "we are on our knees".
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