Urban pub dining set to increase
Urban pub dining is set to increase when the smoke ban hits.
According to research by consumer analyst CACI, 75% of 25-35 year olds in upmarket metropolitan areas and affluent towns plan to eat out in pubs after the ban.
The research also revealed that the ban will generate a five per cent increase in pub goers.
There are challenging times ahead for pub operatorsCACI head of location analysis - Ian Thurman
Although urban dining is set to increase, the study suggests that the number of people eating out in pubs overall, is expected to decline from 66 to 64 per cent as pubs lose their attraction to committed smokers.
According to the research, older smokers have the strongest views about the smoking ban with 65 per cent of over-50s smokers saying they will never eat in smoke-free pubs compared to 52 per cent of all smokers.
The research went on to reveal that 29 per cent of young adults starting out on the professional and managerial ladder expect to eat out in pubs more than 3 times a month after the smoking ban compared to only 17 per cent of them before the ban.
The research also shows that women are more likely to visit pubs with 80 per cent of women expecting to use pubs after the ban.
CACI head of location analysis Ian Thurman said: "There are challenging times ahead for pub operators and it will be vitally important for owners to carefully review their estates and improve understanding of their local consumers. The operators who identify the pubs with increased potential following the ban will see good returns on their investments."
