Pub sales soaring despite ban on smoking

Story in full TAKINGS in Scottish pubs and bars have risen since the introduction of the smoking ban, confounding fears it would hit the licensed trade.

Publicans across the country said sales of food and drink had risen significantly since the ban came into force two weeks ago.

One bar in Edinburgh reported a 25 per cent boost last weekend as drinkers were attracted by smoke-free rooms.

Jeff Falls, joint owner of the Blind Beggar, was "pleasantly surprised" by the outcome, having cut his drinks order last week because of the ban.

He said: "Sales last weekend actually increased by 25 per cent. Supplies of Guinness ran out on Wednesday night.

"People who might have avoided pubs because of the smoky atmosphere are coming in. Smokers are drinking a bit faster - they are not pacing themselves with cigarettes."

Colin Church, the manager of Candy Bar in Edinburgh's George Street, said: "Our trade is definitely up on last year. Outside tables are being used much more than they used to.

"Our food sales have definitely gone up. Amazingly, I have not had to tell a single person off about smoking."

Colin Cameron, chairman of the Aberdeen Excise Licence Holders Association, admitted fears of thousands of job losses in Scotland were unfounded.

Mr Cameron, who owns three pubs in the city, said: "To some extent I would admit that I was wrong. I did feel it would have a significant impact."

David Agnew, assistant manager of the Horseshoe Bar in Glasgow, said: "Our figures are up on this time last year. That could be partly due to the ban. We haven't had any negative impact, apart from the fact that door staff are suffering from passive smoking due to people hanging round outside."

Even trade bodies were conservatively optimistic. Paul Waterson, the chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We have always said there will be winners and losers. Bars that have outside areas where people can smoke and which serve a wide selection of food will probably do quite well out of it." Richard Thomas, the assistant manager of All Bar One in St Vincent Street, Glasgow, said overall sales had increased: "Food sales have definitely gone up and alcohol sales have been constant. People prefer to eat in a non-smoking atmosphere."

Mike Dignan, of Dows Bar in Inverness, said: "Our sales have gone up by 5 to 10 per cent. The food side of things is really taking off, but this is also helping our drinks sales, as people stay in the bars for longer."

Nick Tough, the catering and operations manager for brewer Belhaven, which was a vociferous opponent of the new legislation, said: "The smoking ban's impact is hard to assess. Some of our own pubs and free-trade customers have seen lower levels of business, but others have been unaffected, or seen an improvement in their sales."

Veterans of the Irish smoking ban were cautious. Kieran O'Halloran, of O'Neill's bar in Aberdeen, said: "I have seen this in Ireland and usually trade in the cities booms. The closures will happen in a few months at the rural pubs, where they lose their local clientle."