Pub sales down 7.3 per cent since smoking ban

Overall sales in English and Welsh pubs are down 7.3 per cent since the introduction of the smoking ban, a survey has revealed.

The hardest hit area was income from gaming machines, down 9.3 per cent, according to the poll conducted among members of the BII and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations (FLVA).

This was followed by drink sales, down 7.4 per cent. Sales of food fared better, but were still marginally down (0.6 per cent) on the period before the ban was introduced.

Nearly three quarters of the 2,708 licensees who responded had also seen smokers spending less time at their pub.

And 58 per cent reported smokers were visiting less frequently since the ban.

Just over a quarter said there were more non-smokers visiting. The survey did not mention the impact of the poor summer weather.

John McNamara, BII chief executive, said: "We made a massive effort to advise our members how to innovate to beat the ban and many pubs that sell a lot of food, and have invested, have prospered.

"Sadly these have been outweighed by the far greater number of more traditional pubs who rely more on drink and smokers - especially those that could not afford to invest, or did not have the space to develop outdoor areas.

"Our message to the public is to get down and visit your local. Our pubs have better facilities than ever before."

Seventy per cent of respondents to the poll said they now had covered outdoor facilities.

However, Tony Payne, chief executive of the FLVA called for the government to give rate relief to the pubs that have been hardest hit.

"Traditional working men's pubs have been hit hard, especially those with no room to accommodate smokers outside," he said.

"We accept the ban as a public health measure, but it has come at a heavy cost for our pubs and the government should recognise this and compensate us. Eight-nine per cent of the people who responded said that there should be rate relief for licensees that have lost business.

"This is a case of 'collateral damage' where we have been caught in the crossfire of the smoking issue.

"Whilst the trade may well recover eventually this will be the end for many traditional locals and the tradition that goes with them."

The questionnaire was sent out in the week commencing October 22, with 2,708 responses received by December 7.