Charles Wells boss hits out at clubs exemption

by Ewan Turney

Bedford brewer and operator Charles Wells has blasted the Government for giving private clubs a smoke-ban exemption and forecast a drop in trade of up to 30% at community pubs.

Managing director Paul Wells is furious over the decision to exclude Britain's 22,000 private members' clubs from a ban.

He claimed it was clear that protecting staff was not a central factor in the decision.

Wells also predicts the ban will force a migration from pubs to clubs, with devastating consequences for community venues.

He explains the dangers, using one of his pubs as an example - the Dragoon in Brampton, Cambridgeshire.

The Dragoon runs a two-bar operation, one for smokers and a second for non-smokers.

'It competes successfully for custom against a number of other pubs and hotels through its facilities, food offering and entertainment,' said Wells. 'The village also boasts a football club, tennis club, golf club, the Brampton Institute and a social club at RAF Brampton - all private members' clubs.

'If passed, the new bill won't encourage smokers in the area to give up for the sake of their health, it will simply drive them into one of these clubs and away from the traditional pub.'

John Sutcliffe, of the White Cross Inn in Bradley, Huddersfield, said: 'We'll have to drop food.

'The annoying thing is there's a working men's club 100 metres down the road and I'm disgusted it's not a level playing field. We share customers and, if I carry on with food, they'll all go there instead.'

Peter Robertson, of the Devonshire Arms in Brighton, added: 'It would've been fairer to impose an out-and-out ban. We're looking at becoming a private members' club just so we can abide by those rules and then we won't be affected.'

However, it is unlikely pubs would be able to change into clubs as the latter have to be non-profit organisations owned by the members and not a proprietor.