poor pub turnout

[northener]

Really quite in our pubs recently. Has anyone else noticed. Spoke to a couple of landlords they reckon the cold weather and smoking ban is one reason they reckon the other could be longer opening hours people no longer go 12-3 or 7-11 they can go anytime. Trouble is it ruins the social aspect of going out. Myself i'll think twice about going out, i'm a smoker so if weathers poor i'll have a drink and a f*g at home.Shame really.

[northener]

[cocopops]

I live in France, and the smoking ban not hit here yet.  I was over in the UK just after the ban was started and the pubs smelt awful, stale carpets and disinfectant.

My brother was over last week and enjoyed being in a 'smoking' bar, as the smell was less offensive.  He is an ex-smoker of many years, but thinks there is a total loss of atmosphere in the bars in Manchester (where he lives) now.

I have the odd ciggie when I go out, but never around food, and outside or in the 'smoking' areas, and never near children.

We all have things that we enjoy, right or wrong, but the 'policing' of the traditional British 'Pub' is stupid.

IMO there should be a choice of smoking or not, and accept that we are grown up enough to accept that we can make our own decisions. 

I wait for the reaction here, I will be surprised if they provide outdoor shelters in a village of 500 people, many who are happy to frequent the smokey bars, many who are non- smokers.

[Uncle Joshua]

I think pubs have been on a downward slide for years, mainly due to the silly tax put on beer and the smoking ban won't help.

[lottiewood]

Me and hubby were frequent pub goers, but prices and the no smoking ban has put us off....i.e..I can buy a bottle of wine for £3...i pay £2.70 for a small glass in local....and have to sit outside in the cold! We pop in for one after a all day session at the lotty. But i do think the no smoking ban has affected the business.

[ACE]

I bet the bar in Westminster is not feeling the effects.

[Deb P]

Your comments about prices was something I noticed recently too....we rarely go out as a family to a pub, but did so the other week and sat indoors 'coz it was a bit chilly...I was appalled at the prices for two soft drinks for the kids, one small dry white for me and a pint for himself......as you say, so much cheaper to drink at home! OH says rounds for the lads cost less all drinking pints as his meeting up pub does special deals! We only had one round after that, sat chatting for a bit and came home.... Sad eh! I am no longer a cheap date says OH :-\ ;D

[Uncle Joshua]

I bet the bar in Westminster is not feeling the effects.

They drink spirits and smoke cigars thats why the vat only goes up on beer, wine and fags.

[keef]

Pubs have much quieter since the ban. Friday's are still fairly busy round our way, but with 50% outside smoking - it still seems quite. During the week its terrible, i go out for a late couple 2 or 3 times during the week, and most often me and a couple of other regulars are the only ones in the pub - i'm supprised the landlord even bothers opening.

[powerspade]

We`ev had the smoling ban here in wales longer than in England and it has affedted the pubs a lot of them have closed down

[kenkew]

Newport, Belgium, August this year.  The way forward?

...and the place was full!

[Lauren S]

I think the real test for pubs will come when the weather gets colder and people are forced to smoke outside in shivering temperatures. So far since the ban the weather has been ok not to need a coat outside.
Some non alcoholic drinks are more expensive than beer or larger. More and more people will drink at home and pubs will close.

[northener]

Hmmm funny the landlords never mentioned the prices. Mate got a pint of orange and lemonade last week in a Barnsley town centre pub £2.90  How much. Kenkew is that a sign in Belgum saying smoking allowed?

[Biscombe]

Ooohh! I remember saturday nights in Barnsley town centre!! shame people are staying in, not suprised at those prices! you can get  :P here for under 10â,¬!

[mc55]

The pubs I pass on my way home (from Huddersfield) all have outdoor patio heaters now, with patio umbrellas too.  They look as busy as they did before. 

[kitten]

The pubs in our home town are just as busy as before the ban, in fact on some occasions they're busier than before.  We specifically used to only go in one pub in town because it was non-smoking even before the ban, but now the world's our oyster  ;).

I'm finding it's predominantly the smokers who think it's a bad thing and are mostly the ones complaining!  :-X

What about us non smokers who haven't been able to go in pubs unless we want to breathe in everyone else's second hand smoke & then go home stinking of smoke too.  Me, i'm chuffed about the ban, long may it continue  ;D

[northener]

Yes your right it is us smokers complaining its a pain going ouside. It kills the night if your out in a group half in half outside, if your out watching any sport you don't see it all. I think its a terrible law what would be wrong with smoking pubs and non smoking pubs?

[kenkew]

If smoking areas are allowed in Belgium, why not in the UK? Are we part of Europe or not.
(Yes, Northerner...that is a sign to tell people the pub is 'split' to cater for both. Is it legal?...well, the local cops use this place!))

[OliveOil]

Think about global warming too - our pub has a covered area outside and i'm sure its not legal cos 3 sides are closed in - but oh well he has provided the area BUT has now installed heaters too!

[honeybee]

Ive seen some very interesting outdoor areas put together since the ban, some of which make the outside more inviting than the inside  ;D

As for the cost of drinks, OH and I are lightweights and can still get merry on a tenner spent at Wetherspoons  :P

[Froglegs]

if your out watching any sport you don't see it all.

                    ::)