Clubs hit hard by smoking ban
Clubs hit hard by smoking ban
By Joe Willis
THE region's pubs and clubs are suffering under the smoking ban, research reveals.
Sales have slumped by more than seven per cent since the law was changed in July.
Traditional workingmen's clubs and pubs, which rely on drink sales instead of food, have fared the worst.
Stephen Smith, steward at Newton Aycliffe Workingmen's Club, said: "It's hitting the industry hard."
"There are usually more standing outside than there are inside. And if they're outside smoking, they're not going to be drinking."
Carmel Gaffney, of Bishop Auckland Social Club, said: "I think sales have dropped, but not as much as people thought they might."
She said that the recent freezing weather was having an impact, with smokers staying at home in the warm, rather that going out for a drink and having to smoke outside.
More than half of the 2,700 licensees questioned in the national survey said smokers were making fewer visits to their pubs.
Nearly 73 per cent said customers who smoked were spending less time inside the pubs, according to the poll for the BII (formerly British Institute of Innkeeping) and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations (FLVA).
However, a quarter of respondents said more non-smokers were visiting their pubs.
The BII said many food-orientated pubs had prospered following the smoking ban.
Richard Slade, BII North-East chairman, said businesses that had got themselves ready for the ban should not have seen any drop in turnover.
But the success stories have been outweighed by pubs which relied on drink sales.
FLVA chief executive Tony Payne said 89 per cent of survey respondents wanted rate relief for licensees who had lost business as a result of the smoking ban.
"Traditional workingmen's pubs have been hit hard, especially those with no room to accommodate smokers outside," he said.
"We accept the ban as a public health measure, but it has come at a heavy cost for our pubs and the Government should recognise this and compensate us."
Seven in ten pubs now have covered outdoor facilities where customers can smoke, the survey found.
The Northern Echo
http://tinyurl.com/2lawue
By Joe Willis
THE region's pubs and clubs are suffering under the smoking ban, research reveals.
Sales have slumped by more than seven per cent since the law was changed in July.
Traditional workingmen's clubs and pubs, which rely on drink sales instead of food, have fared the worst.
Stephen Smith, steward at Newton Aycliffe Workingmen's Club, said: "It's hitting the industry hard."
"There are usually more standing outside than there are inside. And if they're outside smoking, they're not going to be drinking."
Carmel Gaffney, of Bishop Auckland Social Club, said: "I think sales have dropped, but not as much as people thought they might."
She said that the recent freezing weather was having an impact, with smokers staying at home in the warm, rather that going out for a drink and having to smoke outside.
More than half of the 2,700 licensees questioned in the national survey said smokers were making fewer visits to their pubs.
Nearly 73 per cent said customers who smoked were spending less time inside the pubs, according to the poll for the BII (formerly British Institute of Innkeeping) and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations (FLVA).
However, a quarter of respondents said more non-smokers were visiting their pubs.
The BII said many food-orientated pubs had prospered following the smoking ban.
Richard Slade, BII North-East chairman, said businesses that had got themselves ready for the ban should not have seen any drop in turnover.
But the success stories have been outweighed by pubs which relied on drink sales.
FLVA chief executive Tony Payne said 89 per cent of survey respondents wanted rate relief for licensees who had lost business as a result of the smoking ban.
"Traditional workingmen's pubs have been hit hard, especially those with no room to accommodate smokers outside," he said.
"We accept the ban as a public health measure, but it has come at a heavy cost for our pubs and the Government should recognise this and compensate us."
Seven in ten pubs now have covered outdoor facilities where customers can smoke, the survey found.
The Northern Echo
http://tinyurl.com/2lawue
Labels: Clubs hit hard by smoking ban
posted by coalville auto care at
10:21 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home