Smoke signal

Related tags Pubs Smoking ban Colliers cre

What impact will the smoking ban have on pubs? Our new series surveys the Scottish experience. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Scottish pubs...

What impact will the smoking ban have on pubs? Our new series surveys the Scottish experience.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Scottish pubs will enter the era of the no-smoking pub. The next few months will not only tell whether the ban will have the drastic effects many predict, they will lay down a marker for what the rest of the UK pub trade can expect in a year or so's time.

The Scottish experience could be key to how well English and Welsh pubs respond to the challenge. With that in mind, The Publican has teamed up with licensed property consultant Colliers CRE to follow 10 Scottish pubs through the early months of the smoke ban.

They represent a cross-section of the trade, from wet-led locals and sports bars to food-led houses and high energy venues and we shall report their progress six weeks and six months down the line.

Colliers CRE's Andrew Watt and Paul Shiells visited the pubs in the days before the ban to find out just what they were expecting. Here is their report.

Perceptions of the proposed ban

Market commentary on the effects of the ban has been almost entirely negative, particularly with regard to the potential fall in revenue streams. The pubs perceived to be most at risk are blue collar, wet-led pubs with no external drinking areas. The Irish, Italian and US experiences of smoking bans have all, however, provided contradictory evidence on the likely effects.

We believe Scotland will provide the most accurate indication of the effect of a ban which will be UK-wide by the end of next year. This study will not provide definitive statistical data but will identify the real issues on the ground that affect customers and operators alike.

In our first visits we focused on operator awareness of the ban. In all of our adopted pubs there was a good or very good awareness of the ban and the date of implementation. This has been achieved by a campaign from the Scottish Executive with media advertising (TV, billboards and newspapers) together with point-of-sale material in the pubs, including countdown boards, beermats and so on.

Training had been provided to barstaff and others to varying degrees with the major operators having provided policy and procedural statement packs to pub management.

All staff appeared aware of the sanctions both for themselves and for the customers if found in breach of the ban.

External drinking areas

Seven of the 10 pubs have some form of external drinking area or at least the possibility of constructing an area, ranging from hard surfaced beer terraces to large gardens.

There appears to be an element of confusion as to what is permitted under the legislation and the guidance notes are not easy to understand in this regard.

External smoking areas must have no more than two enclosed sides, so passageways - with or without roofs - would not comply with the regulations.

External heaters are also a potential cause of confusion with naked flame patio heaters receiving adverse comment from some local authorities and the negative environmental effects which had been highlighted in the media recently.

Views of licensees

Most of the licensees of our adopted pubs accept the principle of a smoke ban and while the overall impression is that while there may be some short-term negative impact on trading, there was little negative comment. Even licensees who smoke feel it would give them the opportunity to give it up.

Many consider that while the majority of their drinkers smoked, most were "habit" smokers who could be restrained from smoking. The licensees feel it is important to provide a better offer to encourage customers into the pub - be it entertainment, food or just good craic.

Implications for food tradeAll the study pubs had some element of food trade and the licensees in each case think a smoke-free atmosphere will create additional opportunities for catering. Most also consider there to be an opportunity for pubs to broaden their appeal to non-smokers although most concede this will have a fairly small impact.

Condition of premisesTwo pubs are considering a mini-refit immediately after the ban to renew carpets and freshen up upholstery and decoration. Their licensees point out that going no smoking will lessen wear and tear and generally provide a safer environment.Implications for property values

Effectively a two-tier market will be created in licensed property, that is pubs with external smoking areas and pubs without. The effect on value will, however, need to be drawn from the financial implications of the ban. Operators will perhaps have to consider acquiring adjoining open areas to extend their premises and start using partially enclosed areas which have the appropriate planning and other local authority consents.

Participating pubs