The quest for legal and comfortable smoking zones has seen a huge increase in orders for awning companies. Tony Reynolds, who runs Shrewsbury-based Shading By Design, said that orders for surveys and quotes were up ’1,000 per cent’ on last year. ‘In 2006 we carried out around 300 surveys,’ he added. ‘We’ve done that many in the first six weeks of this year.’
Joanne Maile, whose Essex-based company, Parasolar, makes giant heated umbrellas for leisure chains, including the upmarket Corney & Barrow wine bars, said: ‘It was a quiet January, but now we are very, very busy producing surveys and quotes.’

At around £3,500 for a four square metres awning complete with heating system, publicans believe that products such as Parasolar’s will more than recoup their investment once they have to put up prominent signs telling customers that it is against the law to smoke on their premises. The free signs, which are being issued by the Department of Health, will be sent to all pubs from Easter.

Although pub chains are relieved that they will no longer have to pick up the bill for the signs, many still grumble that they will lose customers when the ban comes into force, in April for Wales and in July for England.

Anti-smoking groups dispute claims that many pubs will be forced to close. The ban has seen an upturn in trade in New York’s bars and restaurants, while Ireland’s pubs report that it has had little impact on their business.

Outdoor smoking areas have become familiar in Ireland since its ban came in three years ago. But the Irish government is now looking at the possibility of banning the structures amid concerns that many pubs are flouting the law.

Established awning manufacturers warn that ‘canvas cowboys’ are rushing to offer British pub chains cut-price smoking shelters that are unlikely to last more than one winter. ‘There are a lot of structures that are very Heath Robinson,’ said Reynolds. ‘The market has sucked in a lot of, shall we say, “entrepreneurial” characters who are making a killing.’

Reynolds, whose company has installed outdoor smoking areas for a number of US restaurants in states where a smoking ban has come into force, said many British pub chains were looking for ‘bespoke’ solutions that would add value to their estate: ‘We’ve just done a job for a pub in Wales where we’ve created a space between the structure and a wall. In between we’ve included a bog garden. It’s quite a nice place to have a smoke.’

It is not just the installers of smoking shelters who are reporting brisk business. Martyn Bright, managing director of the No Butts Bin Company, the first firm in the UK to focus solely on outdoor smoking products, said demand was soaring for outdoor ashtrays. ‘Our sales in France in January went up ten-fold [when the French ban on smoking in offices came in],’ he added.

‘We took orders for half a million euros’ worth of shelters and outdoor ashtrays. With regard to England and Wales, I expect a doubling or trebling of sales in the months running up to and following it, but it won’t be as big as France, as we’ve been moving towards a ban for ages.’

Simon Smith, director of the Tubz vending snacks company, said sales of his company’s upmarket vending snacks had risen significantly in Scotland and Ireland following the smoking ban. ‘A lot of cigarette-vending operators are looking into other forms of business,’ he said. ‘Our form of vending has skyrocketed – there has been at least a 35 per cent increase in sales in areas where the ban is in place. Now people can’t smoke with their drink, they are snacking.’

Taken from: http://observer.guardian.co.uk
Jamie Doward and Liz Biggs

The size of the task facing pubs, barstaff – and the government – ahead of the smoking ban has been laid bare by exclusive Publican research.

But so too has the size of the opportunity, as customers reveal they would like to spend more time and money in pubs when the ban comes in.

Health minister Caroline Flint told The Publican this week a publicity campaign is on the way (see news story, page five) – but it cannot come too soon for customers in England confused about the ban.

With little more than four months to go until the July 1 start-date – and just six weeks until the ban in Wales – six out of 10 consumers do not know when the ban will start.

Although only three per cent of respondents were not aware that some form of smoking ban was on its way, the damage done by the government’s wavering over the form of the ban last year is clear.

According to the research, carried out among almost 1,000 consumers in England and Wales by ICM Research on behalf of The Publican and Britvic:

* four out of 10 (41 per cent) think smoking will still be allowed in private members’ clubs

* one in five (19 per cent) believe it will still be allowed in pubs which don’t serve food

* four out of 10 (38 per cent) believe there will be designated smoking rooms set aside in pubs.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: “You’ve highlighted the fact that pubs should prepare not only by doing things to their pubs, but by talking to and preparing their customers too.

“They should be developing their own countdown clocks in the pubs and talking about the ban as much as they can.”

When the ban does come in, there are firm indications that more non-smokers will look to come to pubs, if the offer is right.

A third of non-smokers (33 per cent) say they expect to visit pubs more often after the ban, with 37 per cent of all respondents – and 51 per cent of non-smokers – saying they will be more likely to eat in a pub.

Twenty nine per cent of those who currently visit pubs only once a month or less say they don’t visit more often because they find the atmosphere too smoky.

Andy Brooks, licensee of the Laughing Fish in Isfield in East Sussex, commented: “A third of smokers we have asked in the pub say they are going to stop coming when the ban comes in. But I doubt if they will really stop coming in the longer term

“The smoking ban is a great opportunity for us to build more trade. I’m convinced that in the long term the number of customers we gain will far outweigh the number we will lose.”

Britvic sales director Andrew Richards added: “While there is still a big job ahead for the industry in preparing for the ban, the opportunities this will create once in place are clearly evident.

“With one in three claiming they don’t visit pubs regularly due to the smoky atmosphere, a clean and smoke-free environment will bring many new and lapsed customers through the door.”

Taken from: www.thepublican.com/
By Daniel Pearce

Britain would follow the lead of Ireland, New York and California where the new rules have been welcomed.

The shift in stance is being pushed by Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, who compared the ill-effects of tobacco to the scourge of polio.

Speaking before a three-month consultation begins tomorrow, Donaldson said a ban was the most pressing issue in public health: “If we have to do one big thing, that has to be to eradicate tobacco like we eradicated polio.”

Indications of a decisive shift emerged as the Tories conceded a ban was “inevitable”. Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary, said Hewitt should “take the powers to ban smoking if the pub and club industry doesn’t do it voluntarily”.

Such a move would close the loophole for pubs which have smoking and non-smoking areas.

But representatives of the licensed trade, previously regarded as the most implacable opponents of the ban, indicated they were reconciled to its eventual implementation. Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Our association is committed to a radical change by 2009.”

John Reid, the previous health secretary, last year patched together a compromise where pubs serving food would ban smoking. The rest could permit smoking provided that they created a 3ft “exclusion zone” around the bar area.

Donaldson said this proposal sent a “mixed message” to smokers. He said such an attempt to protect bar staff from passive smoking was nonsensical: “It’s like trying to half-chlorinate a pool.” He added that the current measures “don’t go as far as I want them to”.

He was backed by Jim Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, who said existing proposals were “unpoliceable”. He said the government should impose the “inevitable” ban as “an enormous step” to improve public health.

The consultation, drawn up under Reid’s tenure, will outline a complete ban on workplace smoking, including smoking rooms in offices. The ban will extend to businesses run from home that employ staff.

Pubs serving food will have a total ban imposed by the end of 2007, including pub gardens. Smokers will be required to move outside the grounds.

A ban is also proposed for open public places where large numbers of people congregate, including sports stadiums, such as Premiership football grounds, open-air concerts and bus shelters.

In licensed premises the responsibility for enforcing the law would be placed on landlords and it would be policed by health and safety officers from local councils. Failure to comply would result in a fine.

This weekend senior health department officials said the consultation would “open the door for a total ban”. The officials said Hewitt “thinks differently to Reid on the issue”.

Another senior department source said: “Hewitt sees that the medical evidence for a ban is unimpeachable but she wants the impetus for the move to stricter controls to come from business and the pub trade.”

Hewitt is prepared to contemplate a total ban because she does not share Reid’s philosophical objections. He was opposed to “nannying” the electorate by forcing on people the state’s concept of a healthy lifestyle.

Reid, who prides himself on understanding working-class voters, was also concerned a ban would alienate Labour’s supporters in its heartlands in the run-up to the election.

The shift from his position has been supported by evidence from Ireland where the economic impact of the workplace ban has been limited. In the first year of the ban, imposed in 2004, takings in pubs dropped by just 3%.

The Scottish parliament voted in April to end smoking in public places and enclosed public spaces. Tomorrow’s consultation paper will give the Welsh assembly powers to introduce an immediate ban on smoking in public places.

Taken from: www.timesonline.co.uk
Jonathon Carr-Brown, Health Correspondent

Freedom to Choose has pledged to bring UKIP the support of its followers in May’s local elections in return for its pledge to allow licensees to provide ventilated no-smoking areas.

Pubs could even display UKIP posters with the slogan “Vote UKIP if you want to continue smoking in this pub.”

Nigel Farage UKIP’s leader told the MA: “I am delighted to support Freedom to Choose.

“It is all very simple. Either we are adults or we are not.

“If we believe that the people of the British Isles are responsible for themselves and their lives then we must allow them to choose how the live by themselves.

“If a publican wishes to go smoke free. Great, that is their choice. If they don’t, that is also their choice.

“What is unacceptable is that this Government thinks it can impose its own solutions in private spaces. It is none of their business to legislate on morality.

“UKIP believes in independence, not just for our country from the EU, and the current plans for an EU wide smoking ban are a disgrace, but also in independence of people from pettifogging rules on subjects that are best left to individuals to decide”

Freedom to Choose spokesman Robert Feal-Martinez said: “We will be encouraging all publicans who wish to have choice to openly support UKIP in coming elections. We are talking about potentially a lot of voters.”

Taken from: www.morningadvertiser.co.uk

Ms Flint was speaking at the National Smokefree England Stakeholder Conference, in London. A number of pubcos and trade associations shared views and experiences on how businesses can make the transition smoothly.

“Our smokefree legislation will produce the single biggest improvement in public health for a generation” said Ms Flint. “Currently only 51 per cent of the workforce enjoys a totally smoke-free environment.

“This legislation will increase that number to more than 99 per cent.

“The evidence is clear – second-hand smoke kills and there is no safe level of exposure.”

Also speaking at the conference were representatives from organisations from Ireland and Scotland who shared the lessons they had learnt.

Earlier today, during an exclusive interview with The Publican, Ms Flint said the implementation of the ban was set to be “the biggest exercise in the world” in terms of population and number of businesses affected.

Pubs are being encouraged to register their details at the Smokefree England campaign website www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/stayinformed to receive campaign updates and register for final guidance.

Taken from: www.thepublican.com
By James Wilmore

Currently, many people choose to go to pubs that have already introduced a ban on smoking and they are enjoying the venues’ smoke-free environments – that’s their unique selling point, for the moment. But what will happen when all pubs are no smoking?

The public will want more. I have heard from a number of licensees and our members saying that we need to remember what the pub is actually all about. It is not simply about drinking and smoking – although these are acknowledged elements.

We need to look at the variety of drinks we serve, the food offering, service, décor, and atmosphere; and try to differentiate venues. Last year I read a dissertation written by a local degree student who had researched why people went to similar pubs in Camberley High Street.

All four pubs are what could be described as high density, vertical drinking circuit venues and attract a lively young crowd at weekends.

Some of the pubs offer drinks promotions and other don’t. If we are to believe some sections of the media, the young people should be flocking to the pubs selling the cheapest alcohol. Not so.

The defining factors were the calibre of the DJs, the seating areas, the food offering and the selection of drinks, not the pricing.

While this is just one example of research, I am sure we can all think of successful pubs, such as the Fountain in Clent, that position themselves above others in the area by using imagination, business flair, fantastic service and an open mind to attract customers. These are four attributes that all licensees need to enhance or develop if they are to make a success of the smoking ban.

The trade needs to be seen to be working together towards a common goal. The ban is coming. I would urge everyone in the licensed trade to make all the preparations they can to make this a success and it is more than offering your smoking customers an outside area; it is about upping your game and making your pub something special.

Finally, I would like to see the pub companies, trade organisations and the industry as a whole coming together to instigate a TV ad campaign urging the public to support and use pubs this summer. We have a lot to shout about.

Taken from: www.morningadvertiser.co.uk
with John McNamara CMBII

With licensees concerned about the effect the ban could have on business, many are hoping to provide comfortable outdoor facilities for customers who smoke.

For city or town centre pubs and clubs which are hemmed by other buildings, the prospect of providing outside space, such as smoking shelters or beer gardens, is tricky.

advertisementThe Reflex nightclub on High Street, Newport, is also awaiting the outcome of applications to erect a covered beer garden at the back of the club.

Manager Holly Edwards said the club had applied to the council for a paving licence but fears it may be rejected due to the close proximity of residential flats.

“It’s going to be difficult. The only other option we have is to stamp people’s hands so they can come in and out,” she added.

Keith Pretlove, duty manager at the Wetherspoons on Cambrian Road, said the pub would erect a canopy over an outside seating area at the front of the pub in the summer months.

But he said Newport City Council were refusing to allow the area outside of British Summertime.

The Handpost on Bassaleg Road are hoping to develop an unused area at the back of the pub into a fully-heated and covered beer garden before then April 2 ban.

Landlady Carol Chapman said it was important to create a pleasant atmosphere for smokers and non-smokers.

“We are concerned we may lose trade because of the ban but we think other people may come out because it will be a cleaner environment for families,” she said. “But we also must cater for the smokers.”

Judy Gribble, who owns the Castle Inn, in Caldicot, has already banned smoking there and says the decision has been the making of her pub.

It was last week named best in Wales by the Morning Advertiser, after going no-smoking in October.

Mrs Gribble, 47,said: “The decision to go no-smoking was a gamble but hasn’t affected us at all and the food’s really taken off. That income is now 50-50 with the drink.

“We don’t smoke and the pub is just one room with very low ceilings. It’s OK in summer but in winter the smoke just sits there and we said with the winter coming we had to go no smoking.

“There’s been no problem with the customers – they just go outside. Business has definitely gone up since we banned smoking.”

For The Bell Inn, in Caerleon, April 2 will not mark the start of a new non-smoking era but the end of their first smoke-free year.

And landlord Tony Willicombe says the non-smoking policy has been a great success.

“We are probably doing better now than before. There has been an increase in food sales since we went non-smoking and those who do smoke don’t mind going outside.”

The pub spent hundreds of pounds on an outdoor sheltered smoking area, and provides a large sand pit for cigarette butts.

Councils throughout Gwent said they have prepared for the ban by meeting with licensees to educate them about the new law. Extra staff are also being employed to enforce the ban.

Taken from: www.southwalesargus.co.uk
Written by: Jon Doel

Freedom to Choose says it has teamed up with lawyers who worked on a similar challenge in Scotland.

Group spokesman Robert Feal-Martinez said: “We have always worked closely with our colleagues in Scotland, and we are pleased to announce that the lawyers for the now withdrawn challenge north of the border are working with our legal team and sharing vital legal comment and generally assisting us.

“The challenge in Scotland was not withdrawn because it didn’t have merit and had already been listed for a full hearing with court time of eight day’s set aside.

“There is no doubt the Scottish legal team have a mountain of evidence which can assist us in our Judicial Review.

“This legal link up can only strengthen our challenge.”

Taken from: www.morningadvertiser.co.uk