Pub landlords gear up for smokefree legislation
Pub chains across the country are gearing up for the implementation of smokefree legislation next summer. Some of the bigger chains, including Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns and Greene King — have announced spending of more than £100m to equip pubs with outside facilities for smokers.
Many chains are also encouraging their tenants to increase or introduce the sale of food in their establishments, recognising this as key to maintaining profits in the longer term. The argument runs that about three-quarters of Britain’s population does not smoke; of those, there will be a hefty proportion who might be tempted to frequent pubs once they become smoke-free, and that serving good food is the obvious way of getting them there.
Source: The Sunday Times, 26 November 2006
