Save your local pub

[brendaward]

It is not just the tax on beer that has killed the pub it was the blanket ban on smoking. While I do not advocate anyone breathing in another's exhaled smoke, a separate bar would have been better. Unfortunately the green wellie brigade won the toss and what makes me so angry is most of them do not drink either. If you give up smoking for health drinking alcohol is next.

Now the smokers stand in the doorway and exhale smoke at visitors about to enter the pub. It was pointed out to me the other day that the man who liked a pint or a whisky and a nice cigar can stand outside developing hypothermia as it takes a while to smoke a good cigar. But that is ok,the pub bar can stay empty while he tries to enjoy his cigar. It is these customers that now stay away.

Was in a pub last year which had a lock in at official closing time, everybody lit up,it was very funny, V's up, private time. Two people arrived after closing time through the back door. We have a local landlord who refused to ban smoking who was heavily fined. Later the pub closed and stood empty for a long time. When someone owns a pub telling them they can't let their customers enjoy their hospitality is like someone saying you are not allowed to have a couch in your home because it is bad for your back.

Sorry had to have a rant because I am fed up with having my freedom eroded and watching traditional pastimes being eroded by rigid minorities whom override the majority.

I am very sad to see our British pubs being bankrupted by Legislation

[The Woodman]

I'm surprised that you think that non smokers are the green wellie rigid minority who over ride the majority.

The smoking ban is the best thing to have happened in my opinion. We all wave out of the window whilst enjoying our Coniston Bluebird XB at those enjoying their fags in the unglazed unheated smokers pagoda hut.

Many of our pubs are being bankrupted by those that own them by charging ever increasing exorbitent rents to their tenants. The culture of drinking has changed in rural areas with the drink driving laws and the smoking ban has affected the job in a very small way, if at all.

The smokers still drink in the two pubs in our village but go outside to have their fags - best place for 'em.

There's mileage in Pauls comment "Shift the beer tax on to alcopops and supermarkets!"

[brendaward]

Sorry, you misunderstood what I meant. I meant the blanket ban was bad, because most publicans voiced their opinion for a separate room for smokers. What annoys me, as an occasional smoker (not in public,) that I have no choice. The new law has ENFORCED my local publican to take out the facilities he provided for people to smoke in a separate place within his building.
The green wellie brigade to me, are the faceless people who campaign with only one aim in mind 'My voice is loudest and you will live your life to suit me.' Well they have won as far as I am concerned the pubs are dying. Wonder how they will deal with the habitual drinkers and smokers who now frequent supermarkets. I do not include myself in the drinkers and smokers neither do I aim it personally at you. I am one of those boring people that go into the pub for a cup of coffee. Perhaps things are different in your local but ours are closing at alarming rates and any more taxes, legislation, greedy landlords, greedy local authorities will cause their extinction.

' And save us from those who know best, but give us moderation. amen'

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by brendaward

........the blanket ban was bad, because most publicans voiced their opinion for a separate room for smokers. What annoys me, as an occasional smoker (not in public,) that I have no choice. The new law has ENFORCED my local publican to take out the facilities he provided for people to smoke in a separate place within his building...........

He was a very rare bird then! Very few landlords were willing to consider the compromise, mainly on the grounds of cost but also because 'nobody wants it'.
At a country pub that I know, before the ban the landlord and his wife were constantly bemoaning what was going to happen as they blew smoke over the few their only customers (my wife and I!). Fair enough, they couldn't make a go of it and had to sell up. The new landlord and his family cleaned the place up, put on a new cheap but cheerful menu and themselves had a cheery word for their customers of which there were and still are many more than under the previous regime. I know that my locals here have not suffered at all from the smoking ban; they have customers aplenty but people don't drink so much because they can't afford it .....

[tcvarlh]

Used to be the Brits met and muttered about the weather, now ONLY the smokers talk to strangers - "beep beep beep, smoking ban! Well it get's youse outside dunnit? - The non's are sitting staring at an empty table, waiting for their mates to finish their fags, alone. The gang is outside having a discussion with half-a-dozen strangers about God & the World. Smokers have become friendlier folk. hehehe

Ta Tone!

h

[brendaward]

I suppose it's a culture thing. In Yorkshire where the pubs/restaurants charge reasonable prices they are heaving with customers, families. Here especially on the north coast of Norfolk a pub meal of fish and chips can cost you fourteen pounds a head. The young generation travel to Norwich for the weekend, so there are not many customers left. There is nothing worse than an empty pub, or one like a Dr's waiting room, The ones that do get full are generally the ones that as said before you would not go in in case there is trouble.