BarTalk

Are you ready for the smoking ban?

John Ellis

Crown Inn

Oakengates

Shropshire

We haven't got everything in place yet, but we're confident. We held off doing anything major while the Government sorted out all the rules and regulations, so now we're a bit behind - the planning permission was actually filed today after a three-week delay. On the 2nd we're going to get the decorators in and replace all the upholstery, and when the planning permission comes through we're going to overhaul our courtyard area.

Alan Dreja

Royal Oak

Southhampton

Hampshire

Yes, absolutely, we're a city-centre pub and we've got a pavement licence and lots of tables and chairs, so they'll have somewhere to go. We've got all the right signs and we're going to shut on the 1st and get a team of cleaners in. We're also going to introduce a food offer. The only thing that worries me is that I'm going to be constantly telling people off for smoking just inside the door - I don't think the public has been informed enough about the new rules.

Justine Stockton

Five Degrees West

Falmouth

Cornwall

Yes, we've redesigned and spruced up all our outdoor areas; we've got plumbed in patio heaters and over 200 seats. We're one of only three pubs in the town that has a decent-sized outside area, so we're actually expecting an increase in trade. Our pub has only ever been 20% smoking, and it's an open plan, airy building, so smoking's never been that much of an issue. We've also developed our food offering to cater for more families.

Nigel Anstead

White Horse

Bedford

Bedfordshire

We've created a hand-out for our staff, detailing the new regulations and what they need to do if someone is smoking in the pub. We don't have that many smoking customers and I'm sure the ones that do will co-operate.

I've done all the obvious things too - we're having the pub completely refreshed over the next month and Charles Wells has erected two smoking shelters.