Cafes, pubs and restaurants to reopen outdoors as lockdown measures ease in Wales

Pubs, restaurants, bars, cafes and other hospitality businesses are reopening for outdoor service in Wales on Monday for the first time since December.

Organised outdoor activities will also be permitted for up to 30 people from Monday, and outdoor wedding receptions for the same number – while outdoor visitor attractions can open.

People have been unable to buy alcohol as part of a sit-in service at hospitality businesses in Wales since December 4 when tough restrictions were imposed on the sector in response to a surge in coronavirus infections.

Pubs, bars and restaurants were banned from selling alcoholic drinks unless as a takeaway and forced to shut at 6pm.

When Wales went into lockdown on December 20, hospitality businesses were forced to close, but could continue to offer takeaways.

Monday’s easing of hospitality rules comes as other restrictions were eased on Saturday, allowing any six people to meet up outdoors.

Children under 11 years of age are not included in the new six-household limit, nor are carers from those households.

Meeting people from other households indoors is still not allowed except for a limited number of circumstances.

From May 3, gyms and leisure centres can reopen, and people can form extended households with one other household.

Indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults like exercise classes, and reopening community centres is also being brought forward from May 17 to May 3, which will complete Wales’ move to Alert Level 3.

Indoor hospitality is expected to reopen from May 17th if Covid cases across Wales continue to fall.