Getting to grips...

Two months into the the Scottish smoking ban, property agent Colliers CRE has followed up on its pre-ban visit to assess its impact on 10 adopted pubs representing a cross-section of outlets from rural tenancies to branded city-centre outlets. Andrew Watt, who heads the firm's licensed and leisure division, reports below on the findings so far.

First thoughts

The major operators have released a generally positive response to the effects of the smoking ban, with Enterprise Inns perhaps being the most downbeat with a "slightly negative" comment in its recent trading update.

Our sample of pubs include seven with some form of external area. Though the remaining three would be under particular pressure, particularly in an area where competition does offer an outdoor facility.

But the initial reaction is that the ban simply has not had the significant effect that was being forecast by some parts of the industry. Generally there was an upbeat mood towards the ban and its positive effects on the environment.

Air quality

As someone who has been used to poor air quality in pubs for all my adult life, to walk into a pub and be confronted by fresh air is a real pleasure (I have never been a smoker). Is it likely that a hidden population of non-smokers will come to the pubs they have stayed away from in the past? This would be an idealistic assumption. While there may be some customers who will be attracted, in reality this will be quite a small number. However, if additional facilities and services are provided at the same time, for example food, the positive effects of a smoke-free pub may well be enhanced.

Barstaff

The quality of the working environment has improved considerably. This may provide an opportunity to select better quality barstaff who may have been put off in the past by the smoke. Choice

Pubs that in the past had a reputation for generally poor ventilation and a lot of smoking customers are the ones that seem to have made the greatest strides in attracting new custom while only a few of the regular smoking customers are drinking elsewhere.

Smoking solutions

There have been a variety of smoking solutions constructed at our adopted pubs. The key to any solution must be convenience. No matter how elaborate a scheme, if it is not convenient to the customer it will not be used.

Ideally, the solution will be no more than three metres from the outside wall of the pub. Any further and you will find patrons simply taking their chance with the weather and smoking outside the front door.

It is important to know the precise details of the legislation before commencing any work on a smoking area. In Scotland there are precise rules as to the degree of enclosure that is permitted while the rules for England and Wales are still to be published. Clearly the sooner these are available the better to allow pubs to plan their business and their solution.

Enforcement

None of the pubs in our study have reported any issues surrounding the smoking bans enforcement by staff. The general public were well informed of the ban by the Scottish Executive. Similar pre-ban publicity is required in England and Wales.

• Look out for a further follow-up to this study in a few months.

The adopted pubs

• Abercromby Arms Hotel, Tullibody, Alloa (Belhaven tenancy)
• Sportsters, Stirling (town centre sports bar)
• The Ettrick, Old Kilpatrick (village community pub)
• The Ingram, Glasgow (food-led city centre house)
• Chicago Rock Café, Livingstone (themed town centre venue)
• Chase Inn, Kirkintulloch (wet-led community pub)
• Goose On Union Street, Glasgow (city centre pub)
• Hawes Inn, South Queensferry (Vintage Inns)
• Buchlyvie Inn, Buchlyvie (Punch rural tenancy)
• Carriages, Lenzie (contemporary suburban pub)

Lessons from the Scottish ban

• Carry out competitor analysis - has your competitor put a better smoking solution in place than you have?
• When the legislation is fully published, get to know and understand the rules relating the degree of enclosure allowed for an external smoking area
• Don't force-fit a solution - it must be convenient for your customer
• Plan as early as you can
• Target potential new customers who may be attracted by no-smoking environment
• Ask your customers what they would like (both smokers and non-smokers)
• Ensure your customers are fully aware of the legislation - use posters, countdowns etc
• Take advantage of the potential to improve the calibre of barstaff. Look to recruit people who may have been put off working in a pub by the smoky atmosphere
• If you are a tenant start talking to your pubco about your response to the smoking ban at an early date.