Non-smoking pubs
Discussion
Trying to find a pub for Sunday lunch yesterday with Mrs Max we went to a city centre pub that we rarely used to go to as it was always full of pissed chavs wearing football shirts, but having been to 2 others and being told there was 3/4 to an hours wait we decided to give it a try anyway.
Said pub had recently been refurbished and is now smoke-free.
What a transformation!
There was not a single chav in there, mostly couples and a few random blokes reading the paper.
So we had a great Sunday roast, served within 10 minutes and in a civilised atmosphere, so will definitely go back.
Now I do smoke occasionally myself (socially with a drink usually) so I sit on the fence a bit when it comes to a total ban, but it got me thinking, if this pub which had a really bad reputation, can be changed so drastically by becoming non-smoking then maybe there is a positive slant on it.
Said pub had recently been refurbished and is now smoke-free.
What a transformation!
There was not a single chav in there, mostly couples and a few random blokes reading the paper.
So we had a great Sunday roast, served within 10 minutes and in a civilised atmosphere, so will definitely go back.
Now I do smoke occasionally myself (socially with a drink usually) so I sit on the fence a bit when it comes to a total ban, but it got me thinking, if this pub which had a really bad reputation, can be changed so drastically by becoming non-smoking then maybe there is a positive slant on it.
[devilsadvocate]
Could also have something to do with the place being refurbished and banning all the trouble makers.
[/devilsadvocate]
The Lloyds Bar (was Witherspoon)in Bromley now has no underage drinkers in it, as the police station is across the road and they tend to have a wander through occationally.
Lots of factors can change the demograph of a pub
BliarOut said:
So in effect, a no smoking pub has become virtually customer free Interesting
Hmmm not sure exactly as before 90% of the 'customers' were knuckle-draggers anyway and since it only recently reopened perhaps its not widely known that you can go there without getting a glass in your face?
Its about freedom of choice - I'm not in favour of a blanket ban, but if certain pubs/restaurants decide to go smoke-free that's all to the good. Those that want a smoke-free atmosphere for their family lunch will choose to go there in preference to other places. In any case, booze isn't what keeps most pubs alive (too little margin) - its food.
The upside for those that want to use a place as an out-and-out boozer (smoke an' all) is that the families will be taking their kids elsewhere. Everyone's a winner.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Monday 31st October 10:45
The upside for those that want to use a place as an out-and-out boozer (smoke an' all) is that the families will be taking their kids elsewhere. Everyone's a winner.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Monday 31st October 10:45
maxrider said:Could that be the Wetherspoons in Birmingham, sir?
Trying to find a pub for Sunday lunch yesterday with Mrs Max we went to a city centre pub that we rarely used to go to as it was always full of pissed chavs wearing football shirts, but having been to 2 others and being told there was 3/4 to an hours wait we decided to give it a try anyway.
Said pub had recently been refurbished and is now smoke-free.
What a transformation!
There was not a single chav in there, mostly couples and a few random blokes reading the paper.
So we had a great Sunday roast, served within 10 minutes and in a civilised atmosphere, so will definitely go back.
Now I do smoke occasionally myself (socially with a drink usually) so I sit on the fence a bit when it comes to a total ban, but it got me thinking, if this pub which had a really bad reputation, can be changed so drastically by becoming non-smoking then maybe there is a positive slant on it.
Now proudly advertising itself as a smoke free pub.
I won't be going in there again.
The way the regulations have been proposed is just completely daft (typical for Labour):
1. For smokers : can't smoke in a pub serving food ( would have been better to have a "smoking room" )
2. For non-smokers : - family-food type pubs will be smoke free ( but lots of noisy kids ? ) - and "adult" oriented pubs with no food will be smoky.
3. For publicans : will have a difficult decision to make : Should I stop serving food to keep more "smokers" business....... but maybe I'll lose more trade from "non-smokers" , and loss of food revenue.
Labour stuffs it up again and comes up with a "solution" whcih doesnt really work for anyone
1. For smokers : can't smoke in a pub serving food ( would have been better to have a "smoking room" )
2. For non-smokers : - family-food type pubs will be smoke free ( but lots of noisy kids ? ) - and "adult" oriented pubs with no food will be smoky.
3. For publicans : will have a difficult decision to make : Should I stop serving food to keep more "smokers" business....... but maybe I'll lose more trade from "non-smokers" , and loss of food revenue.
Labour stuffs it up again and comes up with a "solution" whcih doesnt really work for anyone
alfaman said:
Labour stuffs it up again and comes up with a "solution" whcih doesnt really work for anyone
What they need to do is stop sticking their oar in to everything. Publicans that decide to go after a certain demographic of clientelle can adjust their own rules to suit, rather than be dictated to from above.If the economics of running a pub are anything like running a "sports bar" here in the States, let me say that you make nothing on food. The waste and spoilage alone cuts into any profits. Drink, on the other hand, is an entirely different thing. Pay wholesale cost on a bottle of vodka, for instance, of $10. You then sell the vodka at $5 a shot. Times 22 shots per litre bottle. That's $110. So that's, what, 1000% profit margin?
No brainer. Bye bye food.
ErnestM
No brainer. Bye bye food.
ErnestM
ErnestM said:
If the economics of running a pub are anything like running a "sports bar" here in the States, let me say that you make nothing on food. The waste and spoilage alone cuts into any profits. Drink, on the other hand, is an entirely different thing. Pay wholesale cost on a bottle of vodka, for instance, of $10. You then sell the vodka at $5 a shot. Times 22 shots per litre bottle. That's $110. So that's, what, 1000% profit margin?
No brainer. Bye bye food.
ErnestM
Doesn't work quite like that here.
Beer - the biggest seller - has tiny margins.
Spirits are not as good as you might expect since a lot of places are 'tied' and have to buy at well above wholesale from their parent company.
Food is not usually controlled by the chain so is a big money spinner for the manager. Exceptions apply (see Wetherspoons).
planetdave said:
If the economics of running a pub are anything like running a "sports bar" here in the States, let me say that you make nothing on food. The waste and spoilage alone cuts into any profits. Drink, on the other hand, is an entirely different thing. Pay wholesale cost on a bottle of vodka, for instance, of $10. You then sell the vodka at $5 a shot. Times 22 shots per litre bottle. That's $110. So that's, what, 1000% profit margin?
No brainer. Bye bye food.
ErnestM
Doesn't work quite like that here.
Beer - the biggest seller - has tiny margins.
Spirits are not as good as you might expect since a lot of places are 'tied' and have to buy at well above wholesale from their parent company.
Food is not usually controlled by the chain so is a big money spinner for the manager. Exceptions apply (see Wetherspoons).
Plus as a nation, we're not really big drinkers of spirits in your average pub. Soft drinks, on the other hand, are a massive money spinner. Which is another reason to encourage families into the premisies (which they can do by also offering food and, as some are now realising, by promising a smoke-free atmosphere)
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