Hospitality venues like pubs, cafes, cinemas and hotels in England might be allowed to open by July

Some hospitality venues could reopen as early as July.

It means places like pubs, cafes, cinemas and hotels may be able to begin trading ‘provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.’

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his televised address to the nation on Sunday evening.

He did not clarify which parts of the sector may be able to reopen.

He said they would only be able to resume trading if ‘the numbers supported it’.

He made the announcement as he has outlined plans to introduce a phased easing of social distancing measures.

The reopening of parts of the hospitality industry would be represent step three of the road map to easing lockdown restrictions.

Step one, to be introduced from Wednesday, will involve allowing people to take unlimited exercise.

Step two, beginning in June, would see things like shops and schools begin to reopen.

And stage three, beginning in July, would see parts of the hospitality industry reintroduced.

During his address to the nation on Sunday, Mr Johnson said: “At the earliest by July – and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing. “

The lockdown measures would only be eased if the rate of transmission in the community remained low.

Mr Johnson warned that the government would ‘put on the brakes’ if there were further outbreaks of coronavirus in the future.

“And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big Ifs,” he said.

“It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down.

“And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here, that this measure will now be effective.

“And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally, regionally, and nationally and if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.

“We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.

“We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need.

“But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work.”