Restaurants and pubs in Wales to reopen indoors from 3 August

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced as part of the country’s plans to ease lockdown restrictions.

In line with other UK countries, exemptions will also be made to the current two-metre rule in the country with businesses that cannot meet it, such as those in hospitality, expected to take necessary precautions.

The country had previously been the only part of the UK yet to set a date for the reopening of hospitality businesses inside, with hospitality businesses in England reopening on 4 July and venues in Scotland able to recommence trading inside on 15 July.

The announcement has been welcomed by the hospitality businesses, many of which had warned of the dire consequences of not being able to trade fully during the summer season.

“We are delighted to finally have a date for re-opening so we can begin to move forward as a sector,” says Shumana Palit and Paul Grimwood, owners of Ultracomida restaurant group, which operates who operate restaurants in Narberth and Aberystwyth as well as Curado Bar and Vermut in Cardiff.

“Whilst sadly this is likely to be too late for some businesses, our focus continues to be on securing jobs and the future of our businesses, and on protecting the health and safety of our staff and customers as we have always done.”

“Welsh hospitality businesses have had to bear the financial burden of a month of additional losses compared to our counterparts in England, and this is a further month where we cannot utilise the business rate relief to support the economic recovery,” says Natalie Issac, director of the 44 Group, which operates restaurants in Cardiff, Penarth, Cowbridge and Bristol.

“We look forward to further constructive discussions with Welsh Government in the coming days and weeks”.
The news has also been welcomed by The Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC), which has been calling on the Welsh Government to follow those of England and Scotland and finalise a date for opening inside.

Hospitality businesses in Wales will be able to open outdoors from Monday 13 July.