Yorks pub beats smoking ban

A South Yorkshire pub has come up with crafty way to get around the smoking ban that has catapulted it into the media spotlight — by designating itself as a smoking research centre.

The Cutting Edge in Worsbrough, near Barnsley, has appeared in the national press after setting up a separate room where smoking is permitted in the interests of research. Smokers must fill in a questionnaire about how many cigarettes they smoke and whether they like a smoky atmosphere in pubs.

Licensee Kerry Fenton said trade has doubled at the Punch-owned pub since she started the "centre" last Friday. The idea came about after one of her regulars suggested she should set up the centre according to the Smoke-free (Exemption and Vehicles) Regulation 2007, part two, item nine.

Barnsley Council enforcement officials had hoped to visit the premises, but a spokeswoman said media attention was such that the visit was not possible.

Simon Frow, head of community protection and licensing at the council, said: "The position is that an officer from Barnsley Council's Regulatory Services department will visit the pub to advise the pub management that they have misunderstood the relevant legislation and that clearly the smoking research room is in breach of non-smoking legislation.

"The council will then monitor the situation before taking any further action that may be necessary."

A spokeswoman for Punch Taverns said: "Punch has condemned the decision of our licensee to undertake this. We strongly advise them to cease this activity immediately."