THE GUV'NOR

Peter Eveleigh

The licensee of the Riverside Inn in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, considers the smoking ban

I always thought the traditional silly season for the media was restricted to the summer's parliamentary recess. Whoever would have thought that Messrs Blair and Brown would have been sidelined by a salvage operation or the antics of a reality TV programme?

January is usually relatively quiet, so apart from having something rather different to chat with locals about, it provides an opportunity to preview the year ahead, polish the business plan and get some renovating done, as well as making sure that the self-assessment tax forms have been finalised.

In fact it's been very busy, particularly as the smoking ban looms ever nearer. Serious money is already being invested by pubcos and private investors alike.

Three local premises have already started - only one qualifying as a traditional pub - with huge amounts of internal work going on in order for them to re-emerge as food-led, non-smoking venues.

But what of external work to accommodate existing smokers? Despite the best words of the patio/decking and parasol providers, local authorities appear anything but united in their interpretation of the much- vaunted regulations.

So some premises are already coming unstuck with what they have planned and that presupposes there is even an external area to consider - not an option for thousands of landlocked pubs.

Is it any wonder that there has been vociferous debate on the MA internet forum in recent weeks, as those of us at the front line begin to question every aspect of the ban as part of our quest for business solutions. Freedom of choice has been denied.

Some forum banter may have mimicked Big Brother, but at least the Branscombe salvage operation has sprung many a wine barrel for those leylandii walls! And if you don't know what I'm talking about, log on to the web and get involved.