With many hotel businesses in North Wales fearing for their futures due to the latest local Covid-19 restrictions, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to support them through this challenging time by allowing them to serve alcohol to their residents after the 10pm curfew.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter during today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament when questioning the Minister for Economy and Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, over Welsh Government support for hospitality businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
He said:
“How do you respond to the hospitality sector representatives in North Wales who have asked me to ‘advocate most strongly on behalf of full licensed hotels to be able to serve alcohol to hotel residents after the 10.00pm curfew’, emphasising: The critical distinction to be taken into consideration, in that the hotel will become the guests official residence during their stay – effectively their home; That the hotel has every incentive to abide by the curfew for non-residents in order to protect its license; That although the current guidelines say that alcohol can be served via room service, this creates operational issues with staffing and will dull or destroy the overall ambience hoteliers are attempting to create; That this subtle clarification will help to keep hotels viable during the pandemic - and the bleak winter hospitality is facing; and that this may also provide Welsh hotels with a slight competitive advantage.”
The Minister was not supportive of the hotelier’s request, stating “once you grant an exception to one subsector for one particular area of activity, the door is then blown open for others to demand exceptions as well” and that “acting responsibly” means “taking responsibility not just for one's own life and behaviour but also for one's family and the community in which we live”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said: “It is regrettable that this Minister and Welsh Government are denying our hoteliers the opportunity to take responsibility, manage risk, and meet all social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene requirements in order to help safeguard their businesses - and our local economies - in this way“.