The other side of the story

Theme magazine found what it believes is the Rolls-Royce of smoking areas on a fact-finding trip to Ireland - where smoking has been banned since 2004​

THE RUSSELL Court Hotel in Dublin is something of an enigma. From the outside it is the epitome of Georgian elegance. In the basement however, is Krystle, a stylish €1.8m nightclub which opened in late 2006.

What's notable about Krystle is the fact that around a quarter of the spend went on a Mediterranean-style outdoor smoking area, set on a specially created mezzanine floor above the hotel's hidden garden.

Designer Graham O'Donnell says the area is now the most popular part of the club. "Usually it fills before the rest of the club fills up," he says.

The area has been designed to the same specific- ation as the club itself, and you have to look twice to remind yourself you are indeed outdoors.

Reached by a dedicated and secure staircase from the club, and finished in cedarwood and glass, the mezzanine includes a pitched-roof containing skylights. The roof is recessed in some places - which means it complies with Ireland's legislation around enclosed spaces but still keeps everyone dry.

Innovative lighting

The design incorporates innovative lighting, including sand-blasted, backlit mirrors, and entertainment comes not only from a sound system, but also plasma screens specially sealed from the elements.

Hardwood banquette seating is covered in a leather-style material normally found on motor yachts, and the tables are granite topped.

Throughout, space heaters are plumbed into the gas mains for ultra efficiency.

It's got its own bar, where active ventilation ensures any smoke is blown away from the staff, and its own toilet block, again fitted to the same specification as the club's internal toilets.

Krystle's Rangan Arulchelban says the high specification means nobody feels they are missing out on all the fun by being outdoors. "We want to give people a choice," he says. "Customers can stay outside all night if they want."

Taking an experimental approach​

Midlands bar and venue operator Daybrook House Promotions (DHP) has modified the 200-capacity outdoor space attached to its Nottingham live music venue the Rescue Rooms, reports Theme magazine. It highlights a more realistic approach that will be taken by many bars, unsure of the effects of the ban.

DHP's George Akins says he looked at options to make the area "quite special", but says he preferred taking an experimental approach ahead of the unknown effects of July 1, spending £8,000 on a large umbrella, incorporating heating and lighting.

"We are going down the functional route," he says. "We are not totally sure how detailed planning applications have to be and we prefer to wait and see how well it does instead of spending loads now. But I think it already gives us an edge," he says.

Theme magazine​

Theme is the magazine for the modern bar and restaurant sector. Providing a wealth of information and updates on everything from design and venues to drinks, it goes to 10,000 venues across the UK.​

For subscription information call 020 8950 9117 or email cmpcs@bellsize.co.uk​

Club Mirror visits a club near Doncaster which has gone for an early smoking ban - and has been reaping the rewards as a result

Like pubs, most clubs struggle to get any trade in the weeks following New Year's Day.

But the Coronation Club at Armthorpe, just outside Doncaster in South Yorkshire, had a full house over the first weekend of January.

The reason? The organisers of the club think it's quite straightforward: the large smoke-free area it opened last November.

With plans for an outside shelter for smokers when the ban hits in July already well advanced, the club believes it is ahead of the game on the smoking ban.

"Going smoke-free before the ban is the best thing the club has ever done," says club secretary Alan Jones.

And Alan should know. He's been a member of the Coronation Club for 35 years including 10 years as a trustee and two years as secretary.

The club has a general bar - known as the Games Room - a function room - the Concert Room - and a family beer garden. Little work had been carried out on the club since it was built in 1954 and it was badly in need a facelift.

A general meeting in June last year sought permission from members to undertake the refurbishment and to ban smoking in the Concert Room.

Room by room​

The Games Room was tackled first, together with improving disabled access and toilets. As the bar area had new extractors installed just two years previously, it was decided to still allow smoking there until July 1 when the ban is introduced in England.

The smoke-free Concert Room was the last area to be addressed - as it was to be a designated smoke-fee area there was no point in installing costly extractors which saved on cost.

The project was jointly funded by the club's bank and Scottish & Newcastle UK (the club is a sole supply S&N customer).

The end of the work, which took just under six weeks to complete, was celebrated with a grand opening night last November, which saw the club packed to the rafters.

It had been a worry that doing the work so far ahead of the actual ban might affect trade, but it has had the opposite effect, even attracting a surge of 100 new members since the opening.

"The club advertises in the local newspaper, stating that the Concert Room is no smoking - which is helping increase bookings," says Alan.

The success of the smoke-free Concert Room has stunned everybody, with bookings now being made for afternoon events, not just for the evening. "In December 2006 the club even took a booking for April this year," says Alan.

"Members we haven't seen for a while are now using the club and we are seeing more couples on a Saturday night."

Another positive aspect of the no-smoking move is that some of the club's hardened smokers have cut down, as they are reluctant to go into the other bar or outside. Now Alan is working with members to plan an outside shelter for smokers. "We want to look after all our members, including our smokers," he says.

The club has already been able to invest in an exterior concrete base to make it easier for goods and entertainment equipment to be delivered - very important given the apparent draw of the new, no smoking Concert Room.

Club Mirror​​

Club Mirror is the magazine for the fragmented sports, social and private members club market.​​

It reaches 14,000 clubs across the UK.​​