MPs barred from Blackpool pubs
MPs barred from Blackpool pubs
Nine bars in Foxhall Village have signed a declaration stating they will not allow Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden or Blackpool North and Fleetwood colleague Joan Humble inside their premises.
The document - signed by the licensees of The Happy Scots Karaoke Bar, Del Boys Sports Bar, The Boardwalk, The Princess, The Jaggy Thistle, The Bierkellar, Sportsbar, Lifeboat and Gaiety Bar - states both MPs are banned from the pubs until "they stop the destruction of the Great British pub".
Smoking-ban rebel landlord Hamish Howitt, who runs The Happy Scots and Del Boys, organised the move after getting fed up neither Mrs Humble or Mr Marsden had given him an explanation of why they voted for the ban on smoking in all public places, which came into force in July 2007.
The 56-year-old, who set up his own political party in opposition of the smoking ban called Fight Against Government Suppression (FAGS), has made numerous court appearances for allowing customers to light up in his bars.
He said: "I have 100 per cent backing of all the independent bars from Manchester Square to the town centre. Every single independent bar signed the barring notice in Foxhall Village.
"We hope it might provoke some sort of reaction from them because they still have not explained why they voted, in a free vote, for the smoking ban.
"They seem to have just kept avoiding the issue. We hope this will send out a message to the Government as well. The smoking ban in a recipe for enforced bankruptcy.
"Everybody I speak to in the industry is on their knees. The traditional pubs were in decline anyway, but the Government out the boot in with the smoking ban.
"If Gordon Marsden or Joan Humble turned up at my pub, I would have to say to them 'I'm sorry, you're barred."
Joan Humble, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, said she was disappointed to hear of the ban.
She said: "I do not often go out to pubs in that area, but when I've spoken to other publicans in Blackpool, many have told me the smoking ban has helped them bring in new customers and have welcomed it.
"We must not under-estimate the pressure on our pubs at the moment.
There is a challenge for the local pubs, but banning Gordon and I is not the way to tackle it.
"Hamish and his colleagues are focusing on one issue, but there are many complex issues, including the fact people can buy cheaper alcohol in supermarkets and drink at home."
The pub industry says it has been hit by a damaging cocktail of the smoking ban, rising food and utility costs, declining consumer spending and cheap alcohol in supermarkets.
Around 60 pubs a week are closing nationally with many publicans blaming the effect of the smoking ban.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
100 pub jobs lost as firm folds
13 September 2008
By Peter Ranscombe
THE effects of the smoking ban and a downturn in trade caused by the credit crunch were yesterday blamed for the voluntary liquidation of CMC Management, which will result in the closure of 15 pubs across Scotland.
Crawford Mitchell and Gary Colton, CMC Management's directors, said the a significant downturn in trade had made it "impossible" for the pubs to continue trading.
About 100 jobs will be lost following liquidation, which was granted by Falkirk SherADVERTISEMENTiff Court on Wednesday.
Pubs affected by the voluntary liquidation include the Gray Horse, in Edinburgh, the Stirling Arms, in Dunblane, and the Victoria Hotel, in Nairn.
Maureen Leslie, of MLM Insolvency, said: "We were appointed by the court after CMC Management directors applied for voluntary liquidation.
"It is our understanding that a general downturn in business after the smoking ban was introduced and the significant reduction in trade due to the credit crunch are the two main factors behind the business failing.
"In this case, the directors have no further comment to make." Leslie said the directors would carry on with CMC Inns, their other business, which includes about five other pubs on different terms from the breweries, with longer leases.
She added that the units within CMC Inns were better performing pubs.
Leslie said: "We are seeing more and more businesses going into liquidation as a result of the credit crunch.
"Businesses are increasingly finding it much more challenging to make ends meet as people spend less and the cost of running a business increases."
http://business.scotsman.com
Nine bars in Foxhall Village have signed a declaration stating they will not allow Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden or Blackpool North and Fleetwood colleague Joan Humble inside their premises.
The document - signed by the licensees of The Happy Scots Karaoke Bar, Del Boys Sports Bar, The Boardwalk, The Princess, The Jaggy Thistle, The Bierkellar, Sportsbar, Lifeboat and Gaiety Bar - states both MPs are banned from the pubs until "they stop the destruction of the Great British pub".
Smoking-ban rebel landlord Hamish Howitt, who runs The Happy Scots and Del Boys, organised the move after getting fed up neither Mrs Humble or Mr Marsden had given him an explanation of why they voted for the ban on smoking in all public places, which came into force in July 2007.
The 56-year-old, who set up his own political party in opposition of the smoking ban called Fight Against Government Suppression (FAGS), has made numerous court appearances for allowing customers to light up in his bars.
He said: "I have 100 per cent backing of all the independent bars from Manchester Square to the town centre. Every single independent bar signed the barring notice in Foxhall Village.
"We hope it might provoke some sort of reaction from them because they still have not explained why they voted, in a free vote, for the smoking ban.
"They seem to have just kept avoiding the issue. We hope this will send out a message to the Government as well. The smoking ban in a recipe for enforced bankruptcy.
"Everybody I speak to in the industry is on their knees. The traditional pubs were in decline anyway, but the Government out the boot in with the smoking ban.
"If Gordon Marsden or Joan Humble turned up at my pub, I would have to say to them 'I'm sorry, you're barred."
Joan Humble, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, said she was disappointed to hear of the ban.
She said: "I do not often go out to pubs in that area, but when I've spoken to other publicans in Blackpool, many have told me the smoking ban has helped them bring in new customers and have welcomed it.
"We must not under-estimate the pressure on our pubs at the moment.
There is a challenge for the local pubs, but banning Gordon and I is not the way to tackle it.
"Hamish and his colleagues are focusing on one issue, but there are many complex issues, including the fact people can buy cheaper alcohol in supermarkets and drink at home."
The pub industry says it has been hit by a damaging cocktail of the smoking ban, rising food and utility costs, declining consumer spending and cheap alcohol in supermarkets.
Around 60 pubs a week are closing nationally with many publicans blaming the effect of the smoking ban.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
100 pub jobs lost as firm folds
13 September 2008
By Peter Ranscombe
THE effects of the smoking ban and a downturn in trade caused by the credit crunch were yesterday blamed for the voluntary liquidation of CMC Management, which will result in the closure of 15 pubs across Scotland.
Crawford Mitchell and Gary Colton, CMC Management's directors, said the a significant downturn in trade had made it "impossible" for the pubs to continue trading.
About 100 jobs will be lost following liquidation, which was granted by Falkirk SherADVERTISEMENTiff Court on Wednesday.
Pubs affected by the voluntary liquidation include the Gray Horse, in Edinburgh, the Stirling Arms, in Dunblane, and the Victoria Hotel, in Nairn.
Maureen Leslie, of MLM Insolvency, said: "We were appointed by the court after CMC Management directors applied for voluntary liquidation.
"It is our understanding that a general downturn in business after the smoking ban was introduced and the significant reduction in trade due to the credit crunch are the two main factors behind the business failing.
"In this case, the directors have no further comment to make." Leslie said the directors would carry on with CMC Inns, their other business, which includes about five other pubs on different terms from the breweries, with longer leases.
She added that the units within CMC Inns were better performing pubs.
Leslie said: "We are seeing more and more businesses going into liquidation as a result of the credit crunch.
"Businesses are increasingly finding it much more challenging to make ends meet as people spend less and the cost of running a business increases."
http://business.scotsman.com
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