Plan for the ban, says pub boss

Retailer apathy will be the trade's worst enemy when the smoking ban arrives next summer, a senior pub company executive has warned.

Hosts who fail to prepare for the big stub out or do not provide customers with new facilities will become the biggest losers, claimed Punch Taverns field operations director Andrew Thompson.

He told a Federation of Licensed Victuallers seminar that licensees needed to make early decisions on a smoking ban strategy.

No action is no option, you have to start making your plans as early as possible​Punch Taverns field operations director Andrew Thompson.

"No action is no option, you have to start making your plans as early as possible because time is against you and your competitors will already be on the job,"​ he told delegates.

"The provision of food and outside facilities for smokers are the two key elements which will help pubs get through.​

"Good food and good retail standards will see footfall increase and when the ban does come good pubs can become great pubs," he added.

Thompson urged licensees to speak to their customers to get a handle on what they want to see happen.

Wet trade and AWP machine income is set to drop in line with trends in Scotland following the start of the ban last March.

This made increased food offering and new menus all the more important in enticing customers through the door.

"One positive will be new drinking circuits which will spring up as smokers visit more pubs simply to enjoy a smoke between venues,"​ he predicated.

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