Mixed reaction to smoking ban

Mixed reaction to smoking ban
Pubs in West Berkshire report mixed reaction to smoking ban and its effects on festive trade

SIX months after England became smoke free in public places, there is a mixed reaction to the ban in pubs around West Berkshire following the festive season.
Some pub owners reported an increase in trade over the Christmas and New Year period in 2007, while others were pessimistic about the ban’s affect on their business, especially if they did not serve food.
Lisa Farrell, co-manager of the Lock, Stock and Barrel, in Northbrook Street, Newbury, thought the ban was brilliant as more customers were choosing to eat at the pub rather than go to restaurants.
“It has done us some good as the way the trade is going we have to concentrate on the food side and the no smoking is helping us immensely,” she said.
Mrs Farrell said trade this festive season was up on 2006 but it was hard to say whether this was due to trends or non smoking.
On July 1 2007, England became smoke free in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces.
Manager of the King Charles Tavern, Cheap Street, Newbury, Patrick McCartan, believes people have got used to the smoking ban, especially as places provide smoking areas. He said the pub’s takings were up on last year.
“If you offer food, a non smoking environment is better,” he said.
“Our trade has been strong and good. I did not think it would be as good as I expected.”
However, the landlord at Northbrook Street’s The Monument, Newbury, Simon Owens was less enthusiastic about the ban.
“People stay at home where they can drink, smoke and stay warm,” he said.
He said many pubs were quiet this year due to the smoking ban and the increasing price of beer.
“We are busier than a lot of pubs, a lot of pubs are really struggling. Friday and Saturday have died away. They are not as busy as they used to be.”
Mr Owens believes an increasing number of people were nervous about mortgage prices so they were more careful with their money over the Christmas period, which affected pub trade.
“Takings were similar to last year but last year was quiet and this year was about the same,” he said.
The supervisor of the Cooper Arms, Bartholomew St, Newbury, Dave Reid, agreed that New Year’s Eve was nothing like it had been and this was largely down to the smoking ban.
“The smoking ban has had a huge effect when it came in. It did level off but with the wind and the rain who wants to stay outside?” he said.
“People are coming out but maybe they are not coming out for as long. In the early days of non smoking, Saturday disappeared. It has evened out a bit and come back but it still has an effect.”
Mr Reid does not believe the ban has stopped many people smoking, but instead people are now smoking at home rather than visit the pub.
“People who have restaurant pubs have had no smoking anyway so it probably has not had a great effect but it has for an ordinary every day pub.”
A spokesman for the Campaign for Real Ale, Iain Loe, said it was too soon to know if the ban had affected trade and the real test would be after Christmas as the weather gets colder and regulars returned to pubs.
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