Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues have arguably been hit the hardest since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak last year.

But with Boris Johnson expected to detail plans for a gradual easing of lockdown restriction in England on Monday, attention has started to turn to when we could see hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants reopen.

So when could we see pubs open in England?

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This is what we know so far.

When will pubs and restaurants reopen?

The government has exercised caution when discussing the reopening of venues over the next few months.

According to reports, there are ongoing discussion about whether the road map will detail pubs reopening in April or whether a more hesitant approach will be taken which could see pubs and restaurants remain shut until May.

The Prime Minister has said the easing of restrictions in England will happen in “stages” and it looks like people will have to wait longer than hoped to visit their favourite establishment.

Mr Johnson was asked about suggestions from scientists that the easing of restrictions should be focused on “data, not dates”.

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Speaking at the mass vaccination centre in Cwmbran, South Wales earlier this week he agreed.

Boris Johnson said: "I do think that's absolutely right.

"That's why we'll be setting out what we can on Monday about the way ahead and it'll be based firmly on a cautious and prudent approach to coming out of lockdown in such a way to be irreversible.

The Prime Minister hinted that the hospitality sector will be one of the last industries to reopen in England.

He added: "I certainly think that we need to go in stages. We need to go cautiously.

"You have to remember from last year that we opened up hospitality fully as one of the last things that we did because there is obviously an extra risk of transmission from hospitality.

"I know there's a lot of understandable speculation in the papers and people coming up with theories about what we're going to do, what we're going to say, and about the rates of infection, and so on.

"I would just advise everybody just wait, we'll try and say as much as we can on that."

What support has been offered to the hospitality sector?

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme introduced by Rishi Sunak last summer saw a rise in profits in August and September.

Although enjoyed at the time it is thought this contributed to a rapid rise in coronavirus cases which led to tighter restrictions introduced in September.

Longer term support has been offered such as the furlough scheme which has paid wages for workers across the UK which, as of December 2020, had cost £46.4 million.

The hospitality sector will also not be required to pay business tax for the tax year of 2020-2021.

Rishi Sunak also announced a further one-off payment for large businesses impacted by lockdown, which will support businesses until April.