Landlords fear smokers won't brave the cold (From Worcester News)

Landlords fear smokers won't brave the cold

4:10pm Monday 29th October 2007

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AS the winter weather approaches, landlords in Worcestershire fear smokers will not want to brave lighting up in the cold.

Research by soft drinks brand Britvic and trade magazine The Publican published today has revealed 26 per cent of the 500 licensees questioned viewed the smoking ban as negative, 28 per cent saw it as positive and 73 per cent would not want the ban to be overturned.

However, some Worcestershire landlords feel the situation could change when the weather turns.

Andy Smith, manager of The Eagle Vaults in Friar Street, Worcester, said: "I think the ban will have a serious impact on the business because we don't have an outside smoking area, all our customers have to stand on the street and I can't see them doing that during the winter period.

"A lot of our regular customers said it's cheap enough for them to but their drinks in the big supermarkets and they will do that and stay at home."

Mr Smith said so far the ban, which came into force on Sunday, July 1, had not caused any problems and customers had not complained.

Denis Moughan, landlord of The Grosvenor Arms in Henwick Road, St John's, Worcester, said: "Now it's getting colder there are people who are saying it's okay in the summer but as it gets colder it's putting them off."

The pub has one smoking shelter and another on the way - both will be heated.

Mr Moughan said unlike the survey, 75 per cent of his customers view the ban as negative.

"They just feel they haven't got the freedom any more and their rights have been taken away," he added.

However, Paul Cairns, who runs the Retreat Inn at Norton, near Worcester with his wife Tina, said they are pleased with the ban and wish they had gone smoke-free years ago.

He said customers were happy to go outside and use the heated smoking shelter.

"We are very happy with it and I think the Government could have done it a long while ago," he said.

"Come December if it gets really cold it might be different."

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