Chris Maclean:get ready for the smoke ban

This morning I received in the post a pamphlet from the brewery outlining the position regarding smoking in pubs.

Remarkably I am still getting people coming in who, on hearing there will be a ban in here from July 1, suddenly announce "Well I won't be drinking in here then". Correct. But what they don't seem to understand is that they won't be drinking here or any other pub.

This change, and I am still unsure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, is almost upon us and it is going to have a dramatic impact. What the brewery pamphlet sets out is a reassuring statement that their pubs are planning, preparing and investing in the change. Apparently, evidence from Scotland, Ireland and elsewhere is that unless proper preparation is made trade will be lost.

A local pub I recently visited, although currently having a high proportion of smokers, is already anticipating the benefits to their trade because they are well positioned with seating to the front and rear of the pub. You will not be allowed to smoke inside but outside will be a more attractive option than before.

A friend's pub, mentioned in the pamphlet, has invested a lot of effort to ensure the comfort of their smoking customers, and to be fair the non-smoking customers who wish to be outside, by providing attractive shelters, umbrellas and, very thoughtfully, blankets for those who get cold.

So we licensees fall into two camps - those who prepare for the ban and those who have done nothing.

Embarrassingly I fall into the latter category.

I've done nothing

It's only a few weeks away and although there is some outside seating I am not sure it is attractive enough, or comfortable enough, to satisfy the requirements of smokers. Part of me thinks maybe they'll only pop out for a quick fag and then they'll come back inside but a growing suspicion suggests that maybe they will be better going to a pub that has made provision.

And that isn't mine.