Bar Talk

Would you allow smoking inside your pub again if you had the choice?

Ric Sainty

The Old Spot

Dursley

Gloucestershire

No, I've had health problems because I used to smoke. My pub is a cleaner, sweeter smelling place — in fact, I banned smoking and installed facilities outside the pub before the ban came in. I don't have too much of a problem with smoking areas in other pubs if it's restricted to a small room and I can't smell it.

Jannine Clark

Holly Bush

Church Broughton

Derbyshire

I would, but in a smaller area than we had before the ban — certainly nowhere near people eating, which is a very important part of our business. Allowing smoking again in our locals' bar would certainly be good for business. I'm not a smoker myself, but I think it's a necessary evil for the trade.

Wyn Jenkins

Tafran-y-deri

Swansea

Wales

Probably not — but I'd certainly consider it if other pubs allowed it indoors again because not doing so would damage my business. We had a small smoking area before the ban and, since it's gone, the pub smells much nicer all over. People have got used to it now and, overall, I'm glad it happened.

Dave Parker

Shoulder of Mutton

Castleford

West Yorkshire

I'd have it back in a second. Just in the tap room, though, not in the lounge, which has soft furnishings. My takings are down since the ban, but it's not too bad here — it's far worse in the working men's clubs and pubco sites. It's not just pubs it has affected, it's taxi drivers, window cleaners, anyone linked to the trade.