With outdoor hospitality businesses now allowed to reopen in Wales, businesses in Ceredigion are encouraged to ensure that they are fully aware of the latest guidance.
From Saturday, 24 April 2021, six people can meet outdoors in Wales, and outdoor hospitality, including cafes, pubs and restaurants can reopen from Monday 26 April 2021 – alongside outdoor attractions, organised outdoor activities and wedding receptions for up to 30 people.
Welsh Government has also announced that Wales is on track for indoor hospitality reopening from Monday 17 May 2021, subject to confirmation.
In order to open outdoor hospitality more comfortably and safely, some venues may want to erect outdoor structures/shelters to provide some protection from the changeable Welsh weather.
To be considered ‘outdoors’, shelters, marquees and other structures cannot be ‘enclosed’ or ‘substantially enclosed’ to comply with the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020. If the structure has a roof, at least 50% of the area of their ‘walls’ or sides must be open at all times when in use.
This does not include any windows or doors within the structure. This ‘50% rule’ has been taken from smoke free premises legislation, so if you cannot smoke in a structure or building, it will also not be able to be used for outdoor hospitality when the sector reopens.
It is also important to site structures as far away from any permanent structures, e.g. walls or hedges as these may then accidentally form part of the perimeter of the structure as they act to enclose these sides.
As a guide, a structure should be at least 1.5 metres away from any materials or other structure that would act to enclose these sides. It is important to remember that not only must any outdoor shelter comply with the legislation on smoking, but also with laws relating to Planning, Building Control and the conditions for licensed premises e.g. the positioning of the structure means that your CCTV is not effective.
It is also advisable that businesses contact the Fire Officer to discuss any impact the structure/shelter may have on fire escape routes etc. For further information on this and how to calculate whether your structure can be used as an outdoor structure, please visit Welsh Government page regarding smoke-free law: https://gov.wales/smoke-free-law-guidance-changes-march-2021
UK Hospitality Cymru has also released the following mitigating guidance for re-opening outdoors in Wales for the hospitality (pubs, bars, cafés, restaurants and licensed venues) sector: www.ukhospitality.org.uk/page/WalesGuidance
This guidance has been produced in consultation with industry stakeholders and applies to hospitality businesses in Wales. Information relating to current alert levels and any transitional arrangements that may be in place can be found on the Welsh Government website: www.gov.wales/coronavirus. These may change at short notice so it is advised that the page is checked regularly.
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