Pub takings 'down as much as 40%' says Mirror

Yesterday's Sunday Mirror reported that a survey it carried out following the smoking ban found takings at pubs had dropped by as much as 40%.

The paper 'revealed' that its survey found thousands of pubs are struggling to survive following the July 1 stub out.

It said small town-centre pubs and bars in inner-city areas are the worst affected because they have no outside area for smokers to light up.

Even though we're in the heart of things, we've been hit pretty badly. We can't afford fancy outdoor furniture with patio heaters so people are just staying away​Bob Collins of the British Oak, Birmingham speaking to the Mirror.

Bob Collins, landlord of the British Oak pub in Birmingham city centre, whose sales are down 40 per cent, told the Mirror: "Even though we're in the heart of things, we've been hit pretty badly. We can't afford fancy outdoor furniture with patio heaters so people are just staying away."​

Simon Olley, landlord of Beacon Court Tavern in Gillingham, Kent, said: "We've had a slide of about 10 to 20 per cent. I'd like to know where the nonsmokers that were supposed to be coming into pubs when the ban was introduced are. I haven't seen any."​

The paper listed similar quotes from various licensees and bar staff.

Shaun Rennison, president of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, reportedly told the paper that around 1,000 bars were likely to shut.

He is quoted as saying: "Closures are inevitable in the long term.​

"Around 50 per cent of pubs in England trade at less than £160,000 per year and those losing 15 per cent of sales would be in a perilous position."

Tell us your views on our forums. Is the Mirror's bleak picture one you can relate to or has the bad weather played as much of a part as the smoking ban?