MWT Cymru Coronavirus Update - Issue 27
New Restrictions for Hospitality
The Welsh Government has today announced the new restrictions coming into force on Friday 4th December. these will include:

  • All hospitality settings, including restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars can open indoors and outdoors for the consumption of food and non-alcoholic drinks and must close by 6pm

  • Alcoholic drinks cannot be served or consumed at any time within these premises and this will be strictly enforced.

  • Takeaway services can still operate as normal, provided food and drinks are sold for consumption off the premises and do not include alcohol after 22:00. 

  • Premises with a license for off-sales can continue to sell alcohol until 22:00 as part of the takeaway offer. Face coverings and physical distancing rules must be followed.

  • Hotels and other accommodation providers can remain open and can serve food and non-alcoholic drinks in bar/restaurant areas within their premises up to 22:00 to residents, but must close by 18:00 to non-residents. For room service, residents can order food and drink at any time for consumption in their own rooms, but this must not include alcohol after 22:00. No alcohol can be served to guests in their bedrooms between 10pm and 06am following morning.

  • All indoor attractions and indoor entertainment venues must close. For breweries, vineyards, distilleries etc it will depend on your individual circumstances and what licences are held by the business

  • Financial packages will become available for eligible businesses. this will include Non Domestic Rate (NDR) businesses could receive up to £5000. Those that are not on an NDR there will be a discretionary fund which will be administered through the local authorities up to £2000 (link to Business Wales below)

  • A further fund may be accessible through the Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme where small & medium sized businesses meeting the criteria could receive up to £100k and larger welsh based businesses up to £150k (link to Business Wales below)
The update Welsh Government FAQ's will go live this morning (link below)
Travel Restrictions

As it stands Wales does not permit any cross border travel without a reasonable excuse and to take a holiday is not currently considered a reasonable excuse.

Please be aware that although England's lockdown period ends on Wednesday, the travel restrictions in Wales have not changed.

The next Welsh Government review will be on Friday 4th December 2020 and this is the earliest date that the WG can change the current travel restriction regulations. .

There is no indication that visitors in high incident areas in the UK including Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas in England will be permitted to travel into Wales. When accepting forward bookings please bear this in mind.

So, what does this mean?

Until the Welsh Government change the travel restriction regulations, which could remain in place until 19/2/21 no non essential travel is permitted into Wales from other parts of the UK. The WG can change the rules. The next review will take place on 3rd December.

NB: Guidance can differ across the four nations in the UK - please ensure that any guidance or updates on regulations that you use relate to Wales regulations and guidance.

The latest WG information link is below and this is updated regularly so is worth bookmarking for future updates.

If you are not receiving regular enews updates from the WG’s Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update - link below.

We share the frustrations and concern of the whole tourism and hospitality industry in Wales, and we are calling on the Welsh Government for urgent clarity. 
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