Pubs report tough times following smoking ban
Pubs report tough times following smoking ban
21 July 2008
By JACKIE TURLEY
PUBS and clubs anticipated tough times ahead when the smoking ban was introduced.
And a little more than three months on, pubs have reported a difficult transition.
Nigel Dobson, landlord of the Liverpool Arms, in Main Road, Baldrine, said that, as expected, trade was down on this time last year.
He said the drop could be down to a number of factors — last year being the TT's centenary year, prevailing economic conditions or the smoking ban.
'I have not heard anyone saying business is booming this year,' he said.
Mr Dobson, based on what he has seen in pubs in the UK, predicted a drop in trade over the first year.
He said that trade in pubs that were able to adjust and survive would then pick up in two or three years' time.
In order to deal with the drop he has been promoting food and has invested money in this side of the business.
An outside area was opened just in time for the TT and he said this was being used mainly by people eating.
The pub has lost some regular customers, but Mr Dobson thinks the 'real test will be during the winter when it is not so comfortable to stand outside for a cigarette'.
Colin Moore, manager of Legends Nightclub, Peveril Square, Douglas, and Macbeths, Victoria Street, Douglas, said the smoking ban was 'a nuisance' at the nightclub 'because it is another area we have to police, as well as the rest of the club'.
He predicted Legends would be insulated from the ban because it had an outside area, and he said this seemed to be the case.
At Macbeths, he said there was a downturn in trade when the ban was first introduced but thought business was picking up again as people got used to it.
He said: 'We are lucky in that our regulars are very loyal — they have kept coming to the pub and live with the fact they have to go outside to smoke.
'It's not the fact we are losing regular customers — it is more the fact people are coming out less often.
'Rather than spending many hours every night in the pub they will go home earlier and be out fewer nights.'
Mr Moore said that although there was no space for an outside smoking area, they were in the same position as a lot of Douglas pubs.
'We are confident we will weather the storm,' he added. 'It is an inconvenience and it always will be but we are faring as well in the trade as anyone else.'
Bushy's Brewery boss Martin Brunnschweiler said the firm hadn't experienced too much of a downturn in trade since the smoking ban was introduced.
He said: 'I think the Rovers Return in Douglas and, I suppose I can speak more for the Bay in Port Erin, I don't think we have been too badly affected.
'I think where the problems are going to be is in the winter. The mild weather means that it hasn't been too big a problem to go out for a smoke.
'I think people will think twice about going down the pub when there's the wind and the rain's horizontal.'
http://www.iomtoday.co.im
21 July 2008
By JACKIE TURLEY
PUBS and clubs anticipated tough times ahead when the smoking ban was introduced.
And a little more than three months on, pubs have reported a difficult transition.
Nigel Dobson, landlord of the Liverpool Arms, in Main Road, Baldrine, said that, as expected, trade was down on this time last year.
He said the drop could be down to a number of factors — last year being the TT's centenary year, prevailing economic conditions or the smoking ban.
'I have not heard anyone saying business is booming this year,' he said.
Mr Dobson, based on what he has seen in pubs in the UK, predicted a drop in trade over the first year.
He said that trade in pubs that were able to adjust and survive would then pick up in two or three years' time.
In order to deal with the drop he has been promoting food and has invested money in this side of the business.
An outside area was opened just in time for the TT and he said this was being used mainly by people eating.
The pub has lost some regular customers, but Mr Dobson thinks the 'real test will be during the winter when it is not so comfortable to stand outside for a cigarette'.
Colin Moore, manager of Legends Nightclub, Peveril Square, Douglas, and Macbeths, Victoria Street, Douglas, said the smoking ban was 'a nuisance' at the nightclub 'because it is another area we have to police, as well as the rest of the club'.
He predicted Legends would be insulated from the ban because it had an outside area, and he said this seemed to be the case.
At Macbeths, he said there was a downturn in trade when the ban was first introduced but thought business was picking up again as people got used to it.
He said: 'We are lucky in that our regulars are very loyal — they have kept coming to the pub and live with the fact they have to go outside to smoke.
'It's not the fact we are losing regular customers — it is more the fact people are coming out less often.
'Rather than spending many hours every night in the pub they will go home earlier and be out fewer nights.'
Mr Moore said that although there was no space for an outside smoking area, they were in the same position as a lot of Douglas pubs.
'We are confident we will weather the storm,' he added. 'It is an inconvenience and it always will be but we are faring as well in the trade as anyone else.'
Bushy's Brewery boss Martin Brunnschweiler said the firm hadn't experienced too much of a downturn in trade since the smoking ban was introduced.
He said: 'I think the Rovers Return in Douglas and, I suppose I can speak more for the Bay in Port Erin, I don't think we have been too badly affected.
'I think where the problems are going to be is in the winter. The mild weather means that it hasn't been too big a problem to go out for a smoke.
'I think people will think twice about going down the pub when there's the wind and the rain's horizontal.'
http://www.iomtoday.co.im
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