A PUB owner in Tremadog has welcomed the date given for pubs to be able to open indoors, but says he believes Gwynedd Council is failing to back local hospitality business.

Pubs in Wales have been told they are able to open indoors from 17 May.

Stuart Nashir-Hallard, owner of the Golden Fleece pub, said: “It’s fantastic to finally have an indoors opening date and I am pleased we will be opening in line with England as tourists coming over the border are often oblivious to the Welsh regulations and it causes issues such as negative reviews and even occasional verbal abuse.

“Although we have an opening date, there is still an uncertain path with restricted trading ahead.

“With a two-metre social distancing rule in force it means that most venues will be trading at reduced capacity during a time when we should be accepting as much trade as possible.”

He added: “I contacted the council on behalf of all three hospitality businesses in the village and they have granted us some outdoor space on the parking bays in the village, but at the same time they have told us there is no certainty of how long we can have it and furthermore ‘that this permission can be revoked at any time, especially from the proposed date of Monday 17 May’.

“Although we are grateful to be granted this space, the fact that the council is saying it could be revoked at any time provides us with no certainty.

“We have been granted an area that could potentially fit 10 tables in, tables and chairs for this area would cost us thousands of pounds and barriers for this area alone come to over £500.

“Without any certainty of how long we can use the space for the offer it is bitter sweet and almost pointless. If they agreed to allow us the space until the end of the season it would be worth some investment.

“It’s yet again disappointing to witness our council not moving to back local hospitality businesses.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “As a council, we are eager to help and support businesses as some Covid-19 regulations are eased."This includes working with businesses to enable them to use part of the highways when it is safe and practical to do so as is the case in Tremadog.“As we have explained to the businesses, we are supportive of the efforts and will monitor the situation on a regular basis to ensure that the arrangement remains safe and do not cause any possible risks to the public.”