Sad Irish eyes
01-Jun-2005
As a smoking ban moves closer in the rest of the British Isles, Dublin solicitor Joe Kelly documents the full impact of the ban introduced in Ireland...
BMA survey points to a divided smoking nation
19-May-2005
by Ewan Turney The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that drinkers in the south will be more likely to find smoke-free pubs than those in...
Smoking ban and ADZs move closer
19-May-2005
Most pubs across England and Wales will face a smoking ban in the next three years. The government confirmed in the Queen's Speech at the State...
Jackson turns up heat in Scots' smoke debate
05-May-2005
With news that politicians in Scotland have backed plans for a smoking ban, Snifter was intrigued to hear that singer-songwriter Joe Jackson has...
Trade association faces battle over smoking ban
04-May-2005
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has admitted its "back is against the wall" in its battle against a proposed smoking ban in...
Refurbishment: Taking it one step at a time
26-Apr-2005
Planning a refurb can be a daunting prospect, just be sure to put time and thought into your decisions.When it comes to refurbishment, running a pub...
Party pledges
21-Apr-2005
It's time to separate the wheat from the chaff - and get to the heart of the major political parties' election commitments to the pub trade with our...
Hot Topics - Burning Issues facing the industry today
01-Apr-2005
PubChef asks industry experts for their views on burning issues the industry faces today
Ireland LVA: smoke ban has caused pubs decline
31-Mar-2005
by Ewan Turney One year on from its introduction, the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) of Ireland has claimed that the smoking ban has been the...
Smoking ban draws closer in Northern Ireland
17-Mar-2005
England is in danger of becoming marginalised as an all-out clampdown on smoking in public places looks increasingly likely elsewhere in the...
Martin: visionary or gambler?
10-Mar-2005
JD Wetherspoon profits have dropped by 20% in its first six months. But the company is determined to push ahead with its smoking ban widely...
Negotiate rent with smoke ban in mind says property expert
08-Mar-2005
Licensees need to start negotiating their rents to take into account the likelihood of a smoking ban, says a leading property specialist. Howard Day,...
Smoke ban battle reignited by Hain
03-Mar-2005
Minister adopts MA's Room For All campaign by Ewan Turney The smoking ban saga in England and Wales is far from over as evidenced by a senior...
Finance: Tough choices
03-Mar-2005
Smoking or food? If it comes down to it, you will need the right tools to make the decision, writes profitability expert Colin Marsters.Licensees...
Scottish licensees form political party to fight smoke ban
02-Mar-2005
Licensees in Scotland are so angry at government plans to ban smoking in pubs that they have decided to form their own political party.Two licensees...
City down on Wetherspoon results
28-Feb-2005
The City is predicting a slump in JD Wetherspoon's half year profits when they are announced this Friday.A slow down in expansion, shadowed by a...
Low public support aids Scottish licensees' smoke ban fight
14-Feb-2005
Scottish publicans have condemned the Scottish Executive's proposal to ban smoking because they say only 20 per cent of the public are in favour.The...
Cheap drinks puts Irish host in hot seat
10-Feb-2005
An Irish publican, who has slashed prices in a bid to regain business lost through the smoking ban, has been accused of contributing to alcohol abuse...
Smoke-free roll-out boosts Wetherspoon's shares
04-Feb-2005
Reports that JD Wetherspoon is planning to move upmarket continue to oscillate through the press with all the 'oh yes it is; oh no it isn't' flummery...
Smoking the writing's on the wall
03-Feb-2005
JD Wetherspoon has decided to ban smoking at its 650 pubs in May 2006. The decision was helped by chairman Tim Martin's regular visits to the...
Smoking ban: 58% of pubs to drop food
03-Feb-2005
More than half of Britain's pubs will ditch food in favour of allowing their customers to smoke if the White Paper is implemented in its present...
Taking a stand
02-Feb-2005
The Publican's Butt Out! campaign has had overwhelming support. Tom Sandham went along to a Pubwatch meeting in South-East London to hear what the...
Licensees glory in Wetherspoon smoking ban
27-Jan-2005
JD Wetherspoon plans to introduce a smoking ban have been welcomed by other licensees - because it could mean more trade for them.The chain is to...
JDW to ban smoking across estate by 2006
27-Jan-2005
by John Harrington JD Wetherspoon is to ban smoking in all of its 650 pubs by May 2006 because too many non-smokers are staying away from smoky...
Dining pub bans smoking for good
27-Jan-2005
Customers at Britain's "best dining pub" have given an overwhelming thumbs up to the stubbing out of cigarettes on the premises forever. Nearly...
First smoke-free pub for Wetherspoon's
10-Jan-2005
JD Wetherspoon is to open its first ever smoke-free pub next Sunday.The new pub, George's Meeting House in Exeter, will be completely non-smoking...
Don't let them take the heart of our community'
16-Dec-2004
I write to express my very real concerns over the Government proposals for a smoke ban in pubs that serve food. I wonder what would happen if they...
Paper-roll scam firms are still hitting pubs'
09-Dec-2004
Paper-roll scam firms are still hitting pubs'
Calls for price freeze in Ireland
06-Dec-2004
An Irish politician is calling for a price freeze on drink as the smoking ban continues to damage trade.Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has asked...
M&B warns smoking ban is a threat to health
02-Dec-2004
Mitchells & Butlers has warned that the Government's proposed smoking ban could lead to unhealthy consequences for the nation.The...
Optimism despite red tape
02-Dec-2004
Accommodation is down, power bills are up and the Government's smoking ban proposals promise a further assault on trade for the Bell Inn. But, as...
Liverpool and London push for smoking ban
29-Nov-2004
Liverpool and London have joined forces in petitioning Parliament to pass smoke-free laws in the two cities.Liverpool City Council and the...
16,000 pubs will have to stop serving food
25-Nov-2004
BBPA claims nearly one in three pubs will become drinking dens by Ewan Turney The Government's smoking ban proposals will force 16,000 pubs ...
Smoking ban infringes our human rights'
25-Nov-2004
We are more than disgusted with the Government's White Paper on Public Health, released last week, that is completely taking away our choice in the...
Pubs consider dropping food because of smoking ban
25-Nov-2004
Six out of 10 food pubs are considering dropping their food offer following last week's announcement of a smoking ban.Shock figures, revealed in a...
Questions on the White Paper
25-Nov-2004
Frequently asked questions about the smoking ban Just what is "prepared" food? Apparently, this will be up to environmental health officers to...
Pubs should opt to go smoke-free
25-Nov-2004
Four years is too long to wait: make your pub non-smoking now, says Andrew Jefford I suppose it was inevitable that the Government would go for a...
Bosses air mixed views on proposals
25-Nov-2004
The news of the smoking ban has received a mixed reception from pubco bosses with some generally satisfied, some angry and others simply...
Fountain's outlook is healthy
25-Nov-2004
Fast-tracking a smoke ban is just part of new regime at the West Midlands pub run by Richard and Jacqueline Macey. JOHN HARRINGTON reports Richard...
Smoking: the middle way
25-Nov-2004
There's no two ways around it, the Government's proposals for smoking in pubs don't make sense, as thousands of licensees are keen to tell them. Why...
Ireland's smoking ban a disaster, says Irish trade leader
23-Nov-2004
The smoking ban in Ireland has meant a loss of at least 2,000 jobs and a drop in trade for licensees and brewers says Tadg O'Sullivan, chief...
Food or fags choice for licensees
18-Nov-2004
Licensees are facing up to a stark choice between food or fags following the announcement of a smoking ban in food pubs.According to The Publican's...
Licensees told not to panic over smoke ban
18-Nov-2004
Licensees have been urged not to panic over plans for a smoking ban in the White Paper on Public Health.Broad proposals revealed by health secretary...
The winners and the losers
18-Nov-2004
Rob McKenna White Swan, Bedworth, Warwickshire "I would definitely drop the food I serve and remain a smoking pub. The food is not a large part of...
Trade fears haphazard control
11-Nov-2004
Tony Payne, chief executive Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations "The Government keeps saying it wants to see more family-friendly...
Scotland to ban smoking in pubs
10-Nov-2004
The Scottish Executive is to press ahead with a smoking ban in pubs.In an address to the Scottish Parliament, the Executive confirmed that pubs will...
Smoke protector
03-Nov-2004
The possibility of a smoking ban in Scotland is growing more likely. Tom Sandham reports.After a week of announcements from the Scottish Executive,...
Trade fury over smoke ban slur
28-Oct-2004
An Irish licensees' leader claims his views have been misrepresented by UK officials seeking a smoking ban.Tadg O'Sullivan, chief executive of the...
Air quality: A change of air
22-Oct-2004
As the government prepares its White Paper on smoking, pubs still have everything to play for. Phil Mellows reports.The threat of a public places...
Food-pubs smoke ban angers trade leaders
21-Oct-2004
Concern at media reports of Government plans by John Harrington and Tony Halstead A ban on smoking in food pubs is tipped as one of the likely...