Bar Talk

What's the weather doing for your trade?

John Ellis

Crown Inn

Oakengates

Shropshire

The weather has been average here, but it's a very good time for us. We're a real-ale pub and that seems to be what people want at the moment. We've just had our courtyard fitted out and its proving popular in the warmer weather. Good weather can be bad news for town pubs as people head off to the coast .

Wyn Jenkins

Tafran-y-deri

Swansea

Wales

We're doing well at the moment. We've got two outside areas and I've invested heavily in the pub over the last year, which I think is the main reason we're chugging along in the current climate — we'd have been in trouble if I hadn't, so it's money well spent. We've just got a new chef who's getting people in.

Steve Haslam

Cutter Inn

Ely

Cambridgeshire

Sunny weather is good for us — we're up on last year so going forward. Our outdoor area seats about 50 so it makes a huge difference when it's sunny. We're installing air conditioning today — the kitchen staff are grateful. Happy and comfortable staff are good for business so it's a sound investment.

Nigel Anstead

White Horse

Bedford

Absolutely.

It makes a difference. Almost all of my customers are outside as I speak. It's good when the weather is like this because the ban does not make a difference. I've actually chosen to split the garden into smoking and non-smoking because anti-smokers don't want to be near smoke.