Town pubs in danger
Town pubs in danger
Winston Brown
The ban on smoking in pubs is the “beginning of the end” for the local as we know it, according to a spokesman for landlords in Bridgnorth.
Mr Geoff Bodenham, president of the town’s Licensed Victuallers’ Association (LVA) made the dire prediction after revealing a 30 per cent slump in takings for pubs in the area.
“There isn’t one pub that hasn’t been affected by the ban,” he said.“It has considerably altered trade for the worse and many are having to get out.
“I think it is the beginning of the end of the traditional English pub as we know it.”
The revelation comes on the back of a survey by the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers’ Association.
It said that pub sales nationally are down by more than seven per cent since the ban came into effect in July.
The Bridgnorth LVA held its monthly meeting last week when concerns were raised about the seriousness of the situation.
“This summer has been terrible because of the floods which forced the Severn Valley Railway to close, affecting trade terribly,” Mr Bodenham said.
“But it is clear now that this smoking ban has affected the social fabric of pubs.
“I think there is a certain amount of human rights that comes into it.”
The Bridgnorth LVA represents more than 20 pubs in and around the town, including Cleobury Mortimer and Much Wenlock.
Mrs Christine Smith, manager of the Shakespeare pub in West Castle Street, has seen a 20 per cent drop in takings there.
“Trade is down because people are not coming out but they are staying at home to drink and smoke instead,” she said.
‘We all said at first it was because of the railway shutting but now we’ve come to this. There is nothing we can do and we have just got to bear it.
“We are all looking forward to Easter, when the railway reopens, for things to get better.”
Mr Bodenham fears that the smoking ban has not only affected trade but has changed people’s drinking habits generally.
“Old age pensioners will not go outside and smoke,” he said.
“I think it is going to become more apparent that smokers are suffering in silence in pubs so they will go to local supermarkets and buy drink for less money. There will be a lot more smokers who will stay at home.”
Landlords are seriously considering their futures in the pub trade as the situation worsens.
“Three of the longest standing pubs in Bridgnorth are going to either sell on the leases or the freehold,” Mr Bodenham said.
“The drop in trade is not financially sustainable and I think January will be the crunch time when pubs start to count their takings. If nobody speaks up for or against the ban then nothing will get done.”
Mr Bodenham believes that smokers can be accommodated by pubs in a specially created area outside.
“There should be a dedicated area for smokers so that they can congregate and enjoy themselves,” he said.
“It is a difficult and unfortunate situation but the general consensus is that there should be a better way and a more dignified way of treating people who smoke.”
http://www.bridgnorthjournal.com/news/publish/article_18799.php
Winston Brown
The ban on smoking in pubs is the “beginning of the end” for the local as we know it, according to a spokesman for landlords in Bridgnorth.
Mr Geoff Bodenham, president of the town’s Licensed Victuallers’ Association (LVA) made the dire prediction after revealing a 30 per cent slump in takings for pubs in the area.
“There isn’t one pub that hasn’t been affected by the ban,” he said.“It has considerably altered trade for the worse and many are having to get out.
“I think it is the beginning of the end of the traditional English pub as we know it.”
The revelation comes on the back of a survey by the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers’ Association.
It said that pub sales nationally are down by more than seven per cent since the ban came into effect in July.
The Bridgnorth LVA held its monthly meeting last week when concerns were raised about the seriousness of the situation.
“This summer has been terrible because of the floods which forced the Severn Valley Railway to close, affecting trade terribly,” Mr Bodenham said.
“But it is clear now that this smoking ban has affected the social fabric of pubs.
“I think there is a certain amount of human rights that comes into it.”
The Bridgnorth LVA represents more than 20 pubs in and around the town, including Cleobury Mortimer and Much Wenlock.
Mrs Christine Smith, manager of the Shakespeare pub in West Castle Street, has seen a 20 per cent drop in takings there.
“Trade is down because people are not coming out but they are staying at home to drink and smoke instead,” she said.
‘We all said at first it was because of the railway shutting but now we’ve come to this. There is nothing we can do and we have just got to bear it.
“We are all looking forward to Easter, when the railway reopens, for things to get better.”
Mr Bodenham fears that the smoking ban has not only affected trade but has changed people’s drinking habits generally.
“Old age pensioners will not go outside and smoke,” he said.
“I think it is going to become more apparent that smokers are suffering in silence in pubs so they will go to local supermarkets and buy drink for less money. There will be a lot more smokers who will stay at home.”
Landlords are seriously considering their futures in the pub trade as the situation worsens.
“Three of the longest standing pubs in Bridgnorth are going to either sell on the leases or the freehold,” Mr Bodenham said.
“The drop in trade is not financially sustainable and I think January will be the crunch time when pubs start to count their takings. If nobody speaks up for or against the ban then nothing will get done.”
Mr Bodenham believes that smokers can be accommodated by pubs in a specially created area outside.
“There should be a dedicated area for smokers so that they can congregate and enjoy themselves,” he said.
“It is a difficult and unfortunate situation but the general consensus is that there should be a better way and a more dignified way of treating people who smoke.”
http://www.bridgnorthjournal.com/news/publish/article_18799.php
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