Discussions to reopen hospitality in Wales will continue at “maximum pace” says Welsh Government with Economy minister Ken Skates admitting the “window” is narrowing to save any of the summer season.
On Friday First Minister Mark Drakeford offered the tourism industry a roadmap to reopening but pubs and restaurants were left in limbo with no provisional dates offered.
It comes as 海角视频 Government today confirmed restaurants and pubs will also be allowed to reopen in England on July 4 and the two metre distancing rule will be changed in places where "it is not possible" to stay two metres apart.
Mr Drakeford's announcement sparked fears that it would mean another three weeks before any fresh review of lockdown measures for hospitality in Wales.
The Wales Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) warns that thousands of jobs are now imminently at risk in the Welsh hospitality sector which may take years to recover.
But Mr Skates said discussions had started immediately with a “rapid review” of what can be done to be completed “as soon as possible”.
He added that a fund was being created for local authorities to bid for cash to use outdoor public space to allow restaurants and cafes to safely trade.
This was something called for from the Federation of Small Businesses in a recent report.
Most Read
Mr Skates said: “Discussions with hospitality would intensify - particularly with those who are looking to operate in a way that allows for safe patronage using outdoor space.
“We have not set the time frame yet for a further three week point which would take us to July 30.
“What we have said is we want those discussions to take place at maximum pace and for a rapid review of what can be done to be completed as soon as possible because we recognise that there is a window of opportunity for the hospitality sector to benefit from and that window is going to get narrower as we move towards the end of the summer.
“We have the regular review dates but that does not stop us - if we can - from easing restrictions and taking decisions provided that it won’t adversely impact on our ability to deal with the virus.
“Those discussions will start immediately and in parallel with work on reshaping town and city centres to accommodate more external space for cafes, bars and restaurants.
“We are pressing on the 海角视频 Government to make funding available for adaptations that may be required and we are looking at how we can support local authorities in adapting the public realm.”
The sector employs around 135,000 people in Wales and beyond that it supports a huge supply chain.
Don’t miss
WIRC warns that without further support urgently there will be job losses in the coming weeks as restaurants, pubs and cafés close for good.
In a survey of hospitality businesses completed by the Welsh Independent Collective, only 7% of respondees were confident their business would still be operating at the end of the year.