The pub trade in Telford has been virtually destroyed since the introduction of the nationwide smoking ban in July, licensees claim.
Once packed and lively ale houses in the town are now dead on a Saturday night, with just a couple of solitary drinkers.
Many pub landlords fear they are facing financial ruin when winter arrives and smokers choose to stay at home rather than having a drag in the open air.
The crisis in Telford is reflected nationally, with the pub trade claimed to be in meltdown as one in five tenants declare their intention to quit.
Licensees spoke about their plight at a meeting of Telford Licensed Victuallers’ Association (LVA) at the Station Hotel, Oakengates, yesterday.
Ray Crookshank, of the White Horse, Dawley, said he had done his own survey at 10.15pm on a Saturday.
“I went to five pubs in Dawley and they would normally have been packed with people enjoying a drink and a smoke,” he said.
“Three pubs had just two people in the bar, one had four in and the other had six in.”
Trish Taggart, LVA chairman, from the Duke of York, Oakengates, called for a national referendum on the ban.
“The atmosphere in pubs has completely gone,” she said.
26 Comments
If pub landlords had bothered to fit proper air conditioning (a broken extractor fan does NOT count!) perhaps the government would not have had to introduce the ban.
Report abuse
thats cos people dont want to drink in telford with all the smack heads and gangs!!! its nothin to do with smoking its all to do with it being in TELFORD
Report abuse
I think that fact that there has been a complete blanket ban has really caught a lot of landlords out as they have no alternative but to get on with it.
The town pubs with no outside space will really suffer as they cannot even provide alternative arrangements i.e. canopied area, seperate outside space etc.
Its only a matter of time before a lot of the older pubs shut down which is a crying shame as these are the ones we should be aiming to keep open. The larger chains are not as important.
Also, the increase in rents (as we have seen over numerous weeks in the Shropshire Star) is likely to have a massive impact on the pub trade!
Report abuse
id love to know which pubs reckon their trade has dropped! everyone ive been in has been just as thriving! i really havnt noticed a differeence apart from now there are more cigarette butts in the toilets!
Report abuse
totally agree matt, your comment made me laugh, my local on a sunday used to be 1 big cloud of smoke, couldnt even see the football screen and the tiny fan in the corner would be creeking but not doing much to clear the air!!
Report abuse
Yes danny dichio,it’s far more fun to go to Shrewsbury for the night and wait to get shot in a nightclub
Report abuse
‘Danny Dichio’
You don’t like Telford much do you?
Report abuse
I think the pubs that will struggle are the grotty ones who had nothing to offer anyway. If the landlords got their act together and offered their clientelle something more than a dirty room to drink in, I’m sure more people would venture through their doors. People will always want to socialise and the smoking ban does not prevent that.
Report abuse
I think you will find that smack heads prefer a quiet night in.
And Shrewsbury has just as many as Telford and everywhere else for that matter.
So Danny stop being a twit and cut down on the Babycham,its messing with your mind.
Report abuse
Danny Dichio didn’t like education much by the looks of it!.
Report abuse
This is a pattern that is slowly emerging across the country. The smoking ban is destroying traditional pubs, the livlihoods of publicans and the social fabric that they sustained. It is unacceptable for middle class yuppies to denigrate the traditional pub. They are welcome to go to the happy harvesters of the world. Many prefer a bog-standard pub, a pint and a fag. Why destroy something just because it isn’t one’s cup of tea?
Report abuse
It’s not just Telford, this ban is crippling pubs all over the country. The media just don’t like to report it as it is not yet politically correct to tell the truth.
Report abuse
Smoking Bans were introduced in Oz too but pubs and bars appeared to be more prepared for the change. They provided comfortable outdoor space for smokers to go. They also offered quit group and provided chewing gum and patches. Lollies were also on hand to reduce the craving.
Landlords have known about the smoking ban for a long time and many of them chose to do nothing about it….
Report abuse
If pubs had been given the chance to fit proper extractor fans or been given the choice (if they had the room) to introduce a smoking room then things would be so much better. The trade IS suffering since the ban & it is the local council & the government that need to do more too help
Report abuse
Typical responses from those who have no knowledge of how this ban came about. The pub trade complied with every single request from HMG over a 5 year period and we were promised a partial ban. The government reneged on that. The industry repeatedly asked for an indoor air standard to work to but HMG never provided it. I am not in Telford so can’t comment but I can say every single area in the country is suffering similar problems with takings down in traditional pubs by up to 25%. Licensees need to fight this on a National basis. Join The National Association of Licensees together we can make a difference.
Report abuse
Its great to have smoke free pubs. The landlords are not looking at the bigger picture. I can now go for a sneaky pint without my wife finding out. In the past she could smell smoke before I walked into the house.
Report abuse
It’s easy to use the smoking ban as an excuse, but the price of drinks combined with some of the undesirables that are allowed in these days would have nothing to do with the reason why a lot stay away, of course?
Report abuse
lol Ian.
You should have told her you were having an affair, you may have got less grief then
Report abuse
Ive lived in Telford all my life and never come across a “Smack head” never mind Telford being Stereotyped in that way!!!!
Report abuse
I work in a small pub in a local market town and have to say we’ve noticed no major drop in trade. In fact, we’re now seeing quite a few new faces. Maybe this will change in the winter - who knows? As far as I’m concerned, it’s such a refreshing change not to leave smelling of a filthy old ashtray and coughing all night (small pub = very smokey). However, it’s my choice to work in there and I knew the risks.
Report abuse
HOW COME THE BAN WORKS IN IRERLAND
SCOTLAND AND WALES BUT NOT IN TELFORD?
OFFER SOMETHING ELSE,GET UP TO DATE THE MAJORITY DO NOT SMOKE, AND DONT WANT TO BE MURDERED BY SOME BRAIN DEAD PERSON SETTING FIRE TO A DRIED LEAF AND STICKING IT IN THEIR MOUTH.
Report abuse
Well Said JFK.
We have such a huge choice and variety of pubs to visit now, and have no lasting damage to our lungs thanks to this ban.
The pubs serving food are packed now, as many new customers are coming in where previously they failed to do so as they could not breath thanks to these selfish people who could not care less on who they forced their smoke on.
Report abuse
J.F.K,
Get real !,the Ban has NOT worked in Ireland ! 1400 Buisnesses ,Pubs,Clubs,Cafes,and Bingo halls etc., have shut down in Southern Ireland alone, in three years !and the same is happening in Scotland and now here !threataning people with large fines to achieve compliance is not a measure of success?and by the way second hand smoke has never harmed anyone !150 studies over 30 years have shown no serious threat to health !you,ve been conned by ASH and the Government.
Report abuse
I can confirm that Chris, as I am in Cork: my local closed for good in January 2006. The building is now sliding into a state of decay.
Of the remaining five pubs in the surrounding area, one is now an off-licence, one a computer shop, one is closed and “To Let” (for the past twelve months), one is half-and-half off licence/bar and one remains, for now, as a pub.
July 1st was merely the starting point in England; our ban started in March 2004, and the damage continues unabated. The mainstream press/media, as in England, has gone deaf, blind and dumb, which is why you do not get to hear about what has really happened. The pity is, that pubs and other venues have now been permanently lost to both smokers and non smokers. Cunning plan or what?
Report abuse
It certainly isn’t just Telford! I travel all over the UK, and the picture is the same everywhere - empty or almost-empty bars, even on Saturday nights. On sunny days, you see crowded pub gardens and terraces, with no-one inside. And we aren’t even into the bad weather season yet.
The only places that are doing OK are places doing food. That’s fine, but pub culture, club culture and cafe culture are finished in the UK.
Report abuse
Typical yorkshire lass always had a fantastic social life (pubs.clubs and bars - loved ‘em all)until the ban came in - I went outside like everyone else - hated it, resented it - still do and why? because I like the rest of Great Britain was not given a choice (if i had i would have voted against it obviously) but then again knowing the lack of atmospere in pubs and bars now so would the majority of people who go into bars on a regular basis to relax at the end of the day/week. Perhaps that is why there was no public referendom on the issue. The result would undoubtedly have been clear cut. I do go out on occasion but do not stay long - the atmosphere is dire and more than two trips outside in the freezing rain and wind being made to feel like a leper is enough to put me off - not condusive to relaxation i must say. Instead have started drinking at home something i only ever did at xmas -
at least at home - it is warm, I can relax and smoke in my own little bubble and revel in the knowledge that the next time i vote in a general election it will be for a party that promises to put the right of the individual back on the agenda - as a staunch socialist through and through it pains me to say it but i work long and hard for my pleasures and am prepared to vote for anyone that can promise to give me back my right to relax with a pint and a fag in my favourite pub with my friends and family.
As an end thought - if smoking was made illegal - how long would it take for the nhs be declared bbankrupt?
Report abuse