Welsh hospitality eligible for up to £25,000 support as indoor reopening confirmed

Hospitality businesses in Wales can open indoors from Monday and will be able to apply for funding of up to £25,000 to help with costs.

First minister Mark Drakeford confirmed that up to six people from six different households will be able to meet inside in restaurants, pubs and bars from 17 May.

He also announced a £200m funding package to support businesses affected by the pandemic to meet costs through to the end of June, when more normal trading is expected to resume.

Hospitality and leisure businesses, supply chain firms, nightclubs, events and conference venues in Wales will all be eligible to receive between £2,500 and £25,000.

Drakeford said: "We know the restrictions have helped to keep us all safe but they have had a big impact on Welsh businesses, which is why we are making more funding available to support firms and safeguard jobs."

The Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC), which earlier this week said it was "desperate" to hear updates on the restrictions businesses would face from Monday, reacted positively to the announcement.

"We welcome this parity between indoor and outdoor rules, and are pleased that Welsh ministers have listened to our calls for simplicity," the WIRC wrote on Twitter.

An eligibility checker will open on the Business Wales website at midday on 17 May to allow businesses to find out their support entitlement and how to apply.

Funding will be calculated based on the size of the business and the type of restrictions they are under.

Image: Shutterstock Leonid Andronov