Non smoking pubs in England
 

Well, I've just spoken to some of my London friends (will being seeing them in the next 10 days)and I have been told that there are pubs in London and also outside of London, that are NOW COMPLETELY NON SMOKING, fantastic, great news for me, being a reformed smoker. I was told that in Surrey, in the village of Shere, the White Horse Inn is completely non smoking, and also Blackfriars in London is likewise, and close to where I will be staying, is "The Bull" Inn at Highgate, again completely non smoking.
Here in Qld, Australia smoking is now banned in all pubs, clubs, and anywhere where food/or drink is served, and that includes cafes serving coffee, even outside.
A lot of owners were terrified of the new ruling, but even the smokers got used to it, and business is better than before. I think the non smokers have come out of the woodwork, and returned to their favourite pubs, and restaurants.
Well done England, I am sure that by July 2007, when all licensed premises have to be smoke free, that patrons will get used to it, and enjoy a cleaner environment.

Indeed, common sense is prevailing all around the UK. Here in Cardiff we have some too.

Muck

They are few and far between though.

Lots of places have heated out-door areas if smoke is a problem for you.

We've been travelling in England now for five weeks, from Yorkshire to Suffolk to Sussex and Kent, and to be quite honest we haven't come across a non-smoking pub, yet. We don't smoke so if we found one, we would have appreciated it. I suppose in some places it will take owners longer to comply.

They're springing up all over the place.

I've just emerged from a non-smoking pub in Warrington. They're rare in the really backward parts of Britain though - places like Tottenham.

Someone mentioned gas heaters for non smokers to go outside the English Pubs, here in OZ, its the reverse now, the smokers go outside where the heaters are.
Rickmav - I emailed the owner of the Bull Inn in Highgate (completely non smoking) and the owner said that there business is better than ever, smoker have to go outside for a smoke. Even some of the smokers appreciate an environment without smoke, and don't mind going outside for a quick fag.
Try doing a websearch, with the words, "Non smoking pubs in UK", thats how I found out about some of the London Pubs, that are now non smoking. That wonderful pub, "Blackfriars" in the city, is also "completely non smoking"
Rickmav, my wife & I are like you, if we walk through the front doors of a pub, and it stinks of tobacco, etc, and there is no non smoking area, we just walk out, until we find another pub, or better still a restaurant, where the food is mainly better.
I read the other day, that in England, 1,000 people die each year of "passive smoking", how many people die from direct smoking in England????

My local, the Castlebar, on Uxbridge Road, West Ealing, is non smoking inside, with a (heated) terrace outside. As a non smoker, that suits me fine.

Come to Scotland - all pubs (and other enclosed public spaces) have been completely non-smoking since last March ! And Wales is going the same way around next March or April, so England is actually lagging behind.

I've just emerged from a non-smoking pub in Warrington. They're rare in the really backward parts of Britain though - places like Tottenham.>>>>>>>>

There are pubs in Tottenham where people smoke crack, never mind bensons.

Incidentally football stadiums are non-smoking now.

I just came from a non smoking pub too. But there was a guy in the corner smoking.
It took a few minutes to figure out that it was because someone had set fire to his coat.....lol

;-)

Muck

LOL Good one Muck!!

We just got back two days ago from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and found that most people there smoke heavily.

The sidewalks in Vienna are covered with cigarette butts - people just throw the cigarettes on the ground.

Most airports in the US are non-smoking now but at Frankfurt there's areas all around for smokers to have a few more puffs.

I look forward to a time when smokers will prefer to go to the outside patio to have a cigarette or two and let the restaurant/pub stay smoke free.

Other than that we had an absolutely wonderful time and met so many nice, helpful people.

In my humble opinion there is no other country that has as many castles as Germany has and they are all pretty magnificient!

Go to the website pubs.com. You can do a search for non-smoking London pubs.

I never thought that Scotland & Ireland would go non smoking pubs before England. I didn't know that Wales was going non smoking next year, I guess that will tie in with England's proposed non smoking policy introduction in July/August? 2007.
Being an ex-smoker, I always appreciate when a smoker has consideration for non smokers, and smokes elsewhere, or doesn't blow it in your face.
Nnapoli, thats how I found out that non smoking pubs were starting to spring up in England, prior to legislation in 2007.
I have a funny feeling that Wetherspoon Pubs are all non smoking.
We have the same problems with smokers here in Australia, they treat the beaches like one big ash tray, buts pushed into the sand, however, local councils now have special devices which sifts the sand to remove rubbish & butts. Our council is starting to consider not placing bench seats in certain locations, as it will only escalate the butt problem around the seats.
Judging by the response we now have in Australia, to non smoking licensed premises, its here to stay, and everyone is enjoying the clean atmosphere once again.
Looking forward to returning to England in 2007, after this forthcoming trip, when the law changes regarding smoking in licensed premises.

I have a funny feeling that Wetherspoon Pubs are all non smoking.>>>>>

Nope. They tried it out in Central London - it was commercial suicide.

Unless all pubs are non-smoking, then almost none will be.

Wetherspoons are ghastly hovels anyway - full of plebs, dole-moles, asbonauts, scratters, ratboys, hoi-poloi and wrong 'uns.

The beer's cheap though.

Audere est Facere - Well, at least I have my list of the non smoking pubs in London, the only I will visit, and I'm happy that I have a local one at Highgate to visit each night.
Your right about, it has to be ALL pubs non smoking to make it work, I guess thats why the laws will be passed sometime in mid 2007, to have all pubs & clubs non smoking.
You would think that with tourist numbers visiting UK dropping (due to the past bombings & high living prices) that the government would do something immediately, like non smoking to entice the tourists back to England.
Glad to hear about Wales, going non smoking in their pubs for 2007, as it so happens I will be returning next year, and with that sort of news, Wales will be high on my list to revisit.

We look forward to your visit Tropo.

Muck

tropo: I find it hard to believe that the issue of smoking in pubs is an influence on tourists decision to come to britain or otherwise.

Also remember that London has around 20,000 pubs, most of which never see a tourist. (despite what you might think Britain isn't actually a theme park for tourists, some of us actually live here)

It's not that strange Audere, I won't go in a pub if its full of smoke.
(I live here too)
I also try to avoid London, especially the underground after seeing what collects in the nasal passages after a few hours walking around.
;-)

Fresh clean air is what we are entitled to.

Muck

I'm a non-smoker too, and I don't like smokey pubs. But i really don't believe it's going to put tourists off coming here, and like I said most pubs never see a tourist.

Do you get fresh air in wales. I thought you all had black lung and emphysema from the endless singing.

I see the French government is giving tax breaks to café games to help compensate for any loss of business since the smoking ban:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/sto...923888,00.html

Any prospects for a revival of darts, dominoes and dwyle-flonking in the Slug and Lettuce?

Audere, its true some people do have black lung and emphesemia here in Wales but they are people who smoke or frequent smoky pubs... ;-)

The air is sweet and clean everywhere else (except port talbot) and those of us who don't smoke can sing tunes that make the Indigo Bunting jealous.

:-)

Muck


Yes

Audere, I should have explained myself a bit better. No smoking wont put people off from visiting Britain, but unfortunately for the pubs, especially the little village pubs that tourists like to visit, there are numerous people who just wont go inside if its smokey. I know of a lot of people, who regularly visit Britain, but just don't like smokey pubs, and who can blame them, they don't have to put up with. On my last trip to London, I visited St.Albans, walked around looking at the sights, and then went into a number of pubs for lunch with my wife, and on each occasion, we backpeddled out because of the smoke. We ended up having a nice lunch in a cafe in a park, which didn't allow smoking.
Muck, Wales is my favourite destination in Britain. I think next trip will be wholly spent in that beautiful part of the country. Great rivers, waterfalls, pubs, walks, singers, etc.
Regards tropo.

:-)

Muck

Caroline, has the smoking ban in Scotland stuck, or are people generally ignoring it?

We leave in a week and I've been hit with bronchitis (great timing), so I'm hoping the answer is that people are complying.

It has absolutely stuck - it is the law. The only problem I can see is just with a few small, old men's pubs (i.e. not anywhere you'll be going) - they have been tending to leave the doors open, with smokers standing right next to the doors, so those inside would still be able to smell the smoke. But that should become less of a problem as the weather continues to get colder - presumably they will have to shut the doors eventually !

Who enforces it? Have the police really got nothing better to do? Or is it the usual tin-pot gauleiters from the town hall (and I speak as a local authority employee)?