PINT glasses have been raised across Wales as beer gardens were allowed to reopen for the first time this year.

Having received the green light from Welsh Government, landlords and ladies have welcomed back customers to their beer gardens in the April sunshine this Monday, April 26.

As the nation continues to keep coronavirus under control, freedoms are slowly being returned to our lives after months of lockdown.

We’ve been out and about today to several beer gardens across Wrexham and Flintshire as people enjoyed returning to their local:

Manager for the Fat Boar in Wrexham Craig Pritchard said: “It’s great to be back and welcoming our regulars. Hospitality is the lifeblood of Wrexham so it’s great to be seeing our tables in use again.

“We’re booked up for the whole week and today is set to be just as busy as a typical Saturday.”

At the Nags Head in Wrexham - manager Chris Harland said: “People are much more understanding now of what we are up against as an industry.

"We have a lot of people booked in to enjoy the sunshine - it’s just a shame really that we aren’t forecast today’s sunshine for the rest of the week.

“We’ve got plenty of bookings and people are much more aware of the new normal with the need to wear masks when we ask, make use of sanitiser stations we have at the entrance and stick to the booking system.

“It’s all about keeping people safe at the end of the day.”

Mark Thomas, landlord at the Black Lion in Buckley, said: “It’s been great to have our regulars back. We’re fully booked up now - right through to the Monday Bank Holiday.

"The people of Buckley have really come out to support us which is great. We’re so happy to be back open again and doing what we love.”

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The new rules from today, Monday, cover all hospitality venues – not just pubs – including cafes and restaurants.

People will also have more choice of who to enjoy their first trip to a beer garden with as Saturday, April 24, saw another relaxation to the country’s COVID restrictions.

Since the weekend, six people from six households have been able to meet outdoors.