No need to worry

More than half of all licensees believe next summer's smoking ban will not affect the value of their pub. Responding to this year's Publican Market Report, 57 per cent of licensees said they predicted "no change" in the value of their property once the legislation is in place.

Despite fears that the ban will dent trade in many pubs, publicans appear confident that it will not hit property values.

Interestingly in Scotland - where a smoking ban was introduced in March - more than two thirds (69 per cent) of licensees do not think it has hit the value of their pub. This ties in to reports from Ireland, where agents are suggesting that the pub property market has remained stable in the face of the ban. But only 13 per cent of respondents thought the legislation would increase pub prices, compared to 22 per cent who said they would drop. Licensees in the Midlands appear most concerned about the ban, with 29 per cent predicting it will hit the value of their pub.

More than half (51 per cent) also state their pub has risen in value in the past year, although 29 per cent admit they do not keep a check. Nearly a quarter of wine/theme bars forecast a rise in the value of their property in comparison to suburban/estate pubs, where only nine per cent foresee an increase.

Again licensees appear largely content where they are, with 67 per cent saying they are not planning to look for a pub in the next 12 months.

Mirroring last year's results, a freehouse remains the most attractive option for publicans looking for a new pub - despite them remaining relatively scarce on the market. Sixteen per cent said they were on the lookout for a freehouse compared to eight per cent who want a leasehold/tenancy and two per cent who want to be a manager.

Meanwhile, more than eight out of 10 (84 per cent) of respondents believe that the cost of maintaining their property has increased, with only five per cent saying it has not. Lessees feel the most strongly that their maintenance costs are rising with 90 per cent reporting an increase, compared to 85 per cent of freeholders.

How many pubs do respondents run?

Nearly nine out of 10 people (89 per cent), replying to the Market Report, run just one pub. Six per cent have two, one per cent have three and two per cent have more than three. Only six per cent of freeholders have more than one pub.

Get your copy

Find out more about the Market Report and get your copy at http://www.thepublican.com/marketreport