It is all part of the government's plan to keep us all in our houses.
Pubs and clubs are already closing faster than any other industry.
The smoking ban has closed loads, now the few remaining will go too.
Not seen any pubs up here close due to the smoking ban, infact hubby and I have been more as we dont come out smelling like an ashtray. Playing darts became unpleasant and was one of the reasons I gave it up!
My Mother is a licencee in Northampton and has been a licencee in the south for over 20 years. She is a heavy smoker herself and has seen no drop in her trade(apart from the initial toys out of pram boycott) infact the profits went up, more food trade/families etc.
She was very nearly made redundant christmas week due to her company going into administration but the parent company took on some of the pubs and due to her being bloody good at her job they kept her on. Nowt to do with smoking bans.....just them spending too much, too quickly on refurbing pubs who at the time werent making much above the bottom line.
Its easier to blame it on things like the smoking ban rather than poor managment on the big bosses side.
Not a stab at your post Purple heather just having my 2 pence on some of the real reasons on why
some pubs are closing.
As for the cost of booze going up..... :'( I like my wine...maybe I should look into making my own :D
