Pub bans smoking in garden amid fire risk

The Goat in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, introduced the measure after Friday’s (14 August) national weather alert, with customers asked to use a separate smoking area at the side of the building.

The pub said the decision was taken to reduce the risk of cigarettes starting a fire while still allowing customers to use the garden.

Jules Yeomans, from The Goat, told The Morning Advertiser (MA): “It was actually the national alarm that was out the other day that prompted myself and my colleague Mandy to make the sign.

“Our garden is so dry at the moment and while we didn’t want to close it altogether, we are concerned about cigarettes starting a fire.

“We have a separate smoking area to the side of the building with no grass or plants.”

Customer response

The pub also said it had a wooden children’s play area in the garden that it wanted children to be able to use safely.

Yeomans added: “The response has been great and very supportive. I haven’t seen any other pubs do the same however they may well do now following our positive social media response. Until we have substantial rain, we will keep the sign up.”

Fire risk

The move comes as hospitality operators continue to adapt to hot and dry conditions across parts of the UK.

Fire services have recently warned that cigarettes, disposable barbecues, glass bottles and cars parked on long grass can increase wildfire risk during periods of extreme heat.

Last month, fire services urged consumers to visit pubs instead of using disposable barbecues outdoors, while operators have also been reminded to review fire safety procedures during busy summer trading.

A major wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk also forced historic pub The Ship at Dunwich to close temporarily while firefighters tackled the blaze.