'THERE'S NO CRAIC WITHOUT SMOKERS'
'THERE'S NO CRAIC WITHOUT SMOKERS'
http://tinyurl.com/35ooh5
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk
A Club owner is to close his bars next weekend and sell the business in protest over the smoking ban.
Kevin Leaning (44) fears other bars will follow the fate of the Phoenix Seven, in Scunthorpe.Mr Leaning, who invested £170,000 on opening the 120-capacity club, on Sheffield Street, in May 2005, estimated trade had dropped by 40 per cent since the smoking ban was introduced on July 1.
"The ban has killed off the atmosphere in most bars. There's no craic left without the smokers," he claimed.
Mr Leaning, an occasional smoker himself, said the majority of his 200 members were smokers and were now forced to go into the back yard of the premises to enjoy a smoke.
"Smokers are being treated like second class citizens and they are voting with their feet by staying away from pubs and clubs," he said.
"The law should be changed to allow operators, staff and customers to choose if they want a bar to be smoke-free.
"Smoking outside is all right in decent weather, but wait until the winter comes, then trade will really start to slump."
Heather Campbell (20), a barmaid at Der Schnapps, on Frodingham Road, and a smoker herself, said she thought trade was down.
"We've lost a lot of trade I think. You can smell more because of it - all the bad odours - and there are people just standing outside," she said.
"But I think in the end they are going to have to get used to it."
But Ian Clark (42), licensee of the Jolly Sailor pub, on Station Road, in Gunness, said the opposite.
He admitted the £2,500 cost he had spent on accommodating smokers had been a blow, but said he thought it was money well spent and denied there had been a slump in trade.
"We've not really had a problem," he said. "In fact, we are now getting in more wives and girlfriends and trade went up the week the ban came in! But everyone's remarking on how nice it is."
But local taxi operators claim the smoking ban has hit their trade.
Andrew Longcake, owner of Scunthorpe-based Stax Cabs, said: "Smokers are now walking from pub to pub in order to enjoy a smoke rather than hire a taxi."
Gala Bingo has admitted the next 12 months will be a challenge because of the smoking ban.
The company, which has an outlet on Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, said they welcomed the law but realised it would mean big changes for some of their customers.
A spokesperson said: "Whilst we welcome the introduction of the smoking ban, we know for a number of our customers the smoking ban will have a big impact on their lives and it will be difficult for them.
"We expect to see changing patterns in the visits they make to bingo clubs and we know they will need time to adjust to the different environment."
The Phoenix Seven club will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a sale in Lincoln on Thursday, September 27.
http://tinyurl.com/35ooh5
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk
A Club owner is to close his bars next weekend and sell the business in protest over the smoking ban.
Kevin Leaning (44) fears other bars will follow the fate of the Phoenix Seven, in Scunthorpe.Mr Leaning, who invested £170,000 on opening the 120-capacity club, on Sheffield Street, in May 2005, estimated trade had dropped by 40 per cent since the smoking ban was introduced on July 1.
"The ban has killed off the atmosphere in most bars. There's no craic left without the smokers," he claimed.
Mr Leaning, an occasional smoker himself, said the majority of his 200 members were smokers and were now forced to go into the back yard of the premises to enjoy a smoke.
"Smokers are being treated like second class citizens and they are voting with their feet by staying away from pubs and clubs," he said.
"The law should be changed to allow operators, staff and customers to choose if they want a bar to be smoke-free.
"Smoking outside is all right in decent weather, but wait until the winter comes, then trade will really start to slump."
Heather Campbell (20), a barmaid at Der Schnapps, on Frodingham Road, and a smoker herself, said she thought trade was down.
"We've lost a lot of trade I think. You can smell more because of it - all the bad odours - and there are people just standing outside," she said.
"But I think in the end they are going to have to get used to it."
But Ian Clark (42), licensee of the Jolly Sailor pub, on Station Road, in Gunness, said the opposite.
He admitted the £2,500 cost he had spent on accommodating smokers had been a blow, but said he thought it was money well spent and denied there had been a slump in trade.
"We've not really had a problem," he said. "In fact, we are now getting in more wives and girlfriends and trade went up the week the ban came in! But everyone's remarking on how nice it is."
But local taxi operators claim the smoking ban has hit their trade.
Andrew Longcake, owner of Scunthorpe-based Stax Cabs, said: "Smokers are now walking from pub to pub in order to enjoy a smoke rather than hire a taxi."
Gala Bingo has admitted the next 12 months will be a challenge because of the smoking ban.
The company, which has an outlet on Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, said they welcomed the law but realised it would mean big changes for some of their customers.
A spokesperson said: "Whilst we welcome the introduction of the smoking ban, we know for a number of our customers the smoking ban will have a big impact on their lives and it will be difficult for them.
"We expect to see changing patterns in the visits they make to bingo clubs and we know they will need time to adjust to the different environment."
The Phoenix Seven club will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a sale in Lincoln on Thursday, September 27.
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