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Welsh Government confirms outdoor hospitality go-ahead and new rule change will help operators

Outdoor hospitality can open from next Monday while the rules on who can meet have also changed

Members of the public can enjoy a drink in a beer garden(Image: Getty Images)

Welsh Government has confirmed the reopening of outdoor hospitality in Wales this Monday and a new rule change that will help operators.

They will press on with the planned easing of restrictions to allow beer gardens and other outdoors hospitality areas to reopen on April 26.

There is also pressure to bring forward the opening date of indoor hospitality which is currently earmarked for the end of May - with Plaid joining calls for a May 17 reopening. The next review announcement takes place on April 23 when further relaxations will be confirmed.

Ahead of the start of hospitality reopening next Monday the go-ahead has been given for six people to be able to meet outdoors in Wales from Saturday April 24.

The current rule provides for up to six people (not including children under 11 years of age or carers) from a maximum of two households to meet outdoors. The new rules from Saturday will allow six people (not including children under 11 years of age or carers) to meet outdoors.

It will make it easier for hospitality, with concerns previously raised about how they would police a two household rule and fears people would continue to go over the border instead of using local hospitality venues.

First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “The public health context in Wales remains favourable, with cases falling and our vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength. Because meeting outdoors continues to be lower risk than meeting indoors, we are able to bring forward changes to allow any six people to meet outdoors.

“This will provide more opportunities for people, especially young people, to meet outdoors with their friends. This will undoubtedly have a significant positive impact on people’s wellbeing.