Smoke ban shuts Blackpool club

Smoke ban shuts Blackpool club
By Shelagh Parkinson
A SECOND social club in Blackpool has closed blaming the smoking ban for driving members away.
And its owners today warned others will follow.

The curtain will come down on the Claremont Theatre Club on Friday after two decades.

It follows the shock closure of the Central Club in Kent Road.

Claremont owner David Hall said in its heyday his Sherbourne Road club boasted 1,000 members. Numbers have now dwindled to just 100.

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He said: "I've had days recently when I've only taken £20 all day and you can't survive on that. The smoking ban has crucified my business, and it's doing the same to everyone.

"More clubs in Blackpool are going to suffer the same fate as me. Even those that have got a smoking shelter are suffering, because you have two clubs - one inside and one outside.

"The Government has completely ruined the pub and club atmosphere. You can stay at home and have a drink and a cigarette. The heart has been ripped out of our clubs."

The Central Club closed just a few weeks ago.

A statement from management at the once hugely popular venue said: "We regret that due to increased running costs, government legislation and the smoking ban we are now closed."

Julie Sandwell, of Blackpool-based Sandwell Entertainments which books acts for venues including social clubs, said business was the toughest it had ever been in the agency's 27-year history.

She said: "It's a real shame the Claremont Theatre Club is closing. I have definitely noticed quite a drop in business because of the smoking ban.

Older people especially, who go to social clubs, don't want to stand out in the cold when they want a cigarette so they are staying at home instead."

A stewardess for the Bloomfield Bowling Club on Bloomfield Road said: "It's sad to hear clubs are closing.

"We've all been affected by the smoking ban, but thankfully we're hanging on.

"I never thought I'd see the day that clubs started closing."

Alan Pilborough, Chairman of Blackpool & District Concert Secretaries, said: "It's difficult to generalise about the smoking ban. Some say they're really struggling, but then others say people are coming back into premises now they are smoke-free.

"Clubs are quieter than they used to be, it's a sign of the times.
"When you can buy beer so cheaply in supermarkets and you can get so many channels on TV maybe there is less incentive to go out although I will always be a fan of live music."

Mr Hall, who founded The Claremont when he bought an old warehouse in 1988, will say farewell with a show on Friday.

The venue has been sold to the Blackpool Magicians Club who will use it as their headquarters with a library, magic shop, private theatre with bar and close-up magic room.

Mr Hall, himself a non-smoker, said: "Friday will be very tough and there will be a lot of tears."

Meanwhile, there are a number of pubs in the resort currently shut including The Bloomfield on Ansdell Road, the Oxford in Oxford Square, the former Lionel Vinyl's in Clifton Street, the Royal on Marton Drive and the Cedar Tavern in Cedar Square.

Dave Daley, president of the National Association of Licensed House Managers, blamed cheap supermarket booze as well as the smoking ban for the demise of many pubs and clubs.
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