 |
Pub back-tracks on smoking ban
Published 19-Aug-2004. Reproduced by kind
permission of The Publican.
A no-smoking pub has had to revert back to offering smoking areas after trade plummeted.
The Olive Branch in Barnstaple, Devon, made the decision to ban smoking eight weeks ago, but had to change the policy when customers turned their back on the business.
The pub came under new ownership two weeks ago and the new tenants immediately re-opened areas for smokers. Once they did they noticed takings were immediately up on previous weeks and are continuing to grow as the message spreads.
Ian Adams, who was appointed as the new manager in the pub when the ban ended, said: “It simply didn’t work. If you’re going to bring in these measures you have to ask the public what they want. Most want a choice and that is what we now offer so we are seeing the customers return.”
Richard Hutchings, licensee at the nearby White Hart Hotel, said: “In a survey of 60 of our customers only two felt the air in my pub was not clean and were happy with what I was doing to provide areas for non-smokers. There’s no need for legislation if we are taking into consideration what the customers want.”
Quantum Business Media
