Smoking - Great Britain
 

Is smoking allowed in public places, such as restaurants; museums;shops;theaters,atc?
Thanks

melissa

Restaurants – Most have a smoking section. Museums – no, shops - no, theatres – no. Pubs – yes, but not for much longer.

Well actually, smoking has been banned in all enclosed public spaces in SCOTLAND, which is part of Great Britain after all, since March 26th this year.

and in Ireland as well

...can't happen none to soon...

Everywhere this has happened has led to a quick realization how wonderful it is to be able to eat and drink in a healthy smoke free atmosphere.

Not once have there been any complaints, once the bans took effect, of "lost revenue" and other idiotic stuff that always are stated in oppositon to such life saving laws.

I'd like to post a public 'THANK YOU' to Scotland for enacting the smoke-free law. :)

We just returned from two weeks in Scotland, and really enjoyed being able to eat in pubs and restaurants without having to swallow someone else's smoke. In fact, we didn't realize how much we appreciated it until we ate lunch one day in Seahouses in England, where the law isn't in effect.

At the moment in England, it is up to the owner of the building. You can usually smoke in pubs and most restaurants have a smoking section. Shops usually do not allow smoking, shpping centres (malls) usually have a smoking ban. Museums and theatres do not allow smoking (although it may be permitted in the theatre bar). Cinemas do not permit smoking. Places of interest like stately homes will undoubtedly have a smoking ban. Smoking is permitted in public outdoor areas such as streets and parks, but privately owned areas may ban smoking. Hotels will normally offer a choice of smoking or non-smoking rooms, but some will be all non-smoking, especially at the smaller or B&B end.

Smoking is legally banned on public transport and in any part of the underground (you can smoke on normal outdoor train platforms).

Generally speaking, smokers are found in their own (or other smokers') homes, or on the streets.

We are a family from NY that recently vacationed in London. IMO, there really is not a separate area for smokers and non-smokers in restaurants. You may very well find yourself sitting very close to smokers and sometimes they will actually be sitting right at the next table. You will most definitely smell smoke during your meal. My daughter actually placed her napkin over her nose to block the strong smell of smoke at one restaurant. Of all the restaurants we ate in only one, the Savoy, seemed to have a non-smoking policy.

Yes, smoking is allowed in bars and restaurants in London. I don't think hardly any musuems allow smoking unless it is a designated outside area or something.

Smoking in museums has never been allowed..neither in London or here in Spain. The same for theatres or cinemas or shops. In London they have a smoking section in restaurants, here in Spain with the new law is the same when the restaurant is a big one. With little ones or bars, the owner decides if it is a smoke-free place or a smoking place..no zones.
I was in London recently and I smoke so I can tell it first hand now , hahaha.

kenderina must be very young not to remember smoking in cinemas. It was certainly allowed up till the late '70s in the UK

As has been said before, a smoking section of a restaurant is like a peeing section in the pool :)

In reality, we had few problems with smoking when we were there. If we went into a pub that smelled like an old ashtray, we simply went elsewhere.

A lot of smoking sections are right next door to the non-smoking section - which means smoke drifts right across the non-smoking area - pointless - the sooner they ban the better !!

Mark

GoAway: it's great, isn't it ? We went to the pub for breakfast, to celebrate, on the Sunday the ban started.

And despite the doom-mongers in the licensed trade association, the large pubs groups & CAMRA are now reporting increased business for pubs.

When does it come into force in England? Surely it wouuld have to be after the World Cup - or there will be riots!

Yes David is right,thank fully next summer the ban will be imposed in England and Wales.

But there are many pub chains eg Wetherspoons, that have already started.

It is such a pleasure to go into a pub and come out not stinking of smoke.

My 16year old daughter works in a pub as a waitress at weekends and she stinks of it, god knows what she breaths in.
So the ban is not solely for the customers but it's for those staff that have to be there too.

I long for the time when its 100% banned.
Scotland and Ireland lead the way again.

I hope smokers will take this as a great positive opportunity to stop smoking.

But for those that don't; take your umbrellas because you will be stood outside.


Muck

Actually Wetherspoons have abandoned the no smoking thing. But when you think of their customer base it was always a bit suicidal. They might as well have introduced a no mumbling to yourself after drinking all day rule.

Quick update (for London, anyway). With the total ban coming into force in summer 2007, I've noticed an increasing number of restaurants that have brought the ban forward. Many of my favourite places (from smart places to restaurant areas in gastro pubs) are now no smoking. Sometimes they have a bar area for the smokers to nip to between courses.It seems that non smoking restaurants are now starting to overtake the number that allow smoking.

Pubs will be the last to ban it. Very few pubs are non smoking.

My local, The Castlebar in Ealing, has an enclosed deck area for smokers (with table service), and the main bar area is strictly no smoking - seems to work very well.

Everywhere these life saving smoking bans have been adopted, you had know nothings screaming how terrible it would to the reveue of establishments if people were not allowed to continue scarring other people's lungs with their cancer sticks.

And you know something, everywhere it has been adopted within a week, people have seen why this is important...imagine you can go into a restaurant now and actually be able to taste your food.

The next place that really needs this is France. Certainly the international railways should follow the lead of the airlines and ban cancer sticks immediately to save lives.