Smoking has nothing to do with the reason I go to pubs less now
I don't (have never) smoked, and I have asthma, but to be honest I never found smoky pubs offputting. In fact I can't say I've really noticed the difference -- apart from the fact that I often end up sitting at the table on my own as everyone else fucks off into the street to fume for ten minutes.

The reason I don't go to pubs so much now is much simpler: £3.60 or more for a pint which costs £0.80 from the corner shop at the end of my street.

I don't mind a mark-up for being provided with a pleasant social environment in which to meet friends, with staff, food, music etc etc. But 400% - 500% ??? You're 'aving a giraffe, incha?
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:38, 1 reply)

Indeed.
...but the prices were high before the smoking ban came into play, and yet the pubs - in my experience and that of the pubs that are closing each week - had more people in them than now.
(dchurch bah, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 13:35, closed)

It's not that clear cut though, surely?
In the smallish town of Rochford, close to me, there are around 10 pubs in the village and close by, with another 10 or so in the surrounding countryside.

I should say that all the pubs in the town are not only still there after the ban, but pretty much full every time I go there. There are plenty of people outside smoking, or under cover in the "smoking gardens", but it seems that they like their drink more than being able to smoke inside.

The country pubs have all pretty much gone over to being restaurants, which is where the money is they tell me. One pub owner I chat to said they used the smoking ban as an excuse to close down the less profitable /desirable pubs in his chain and blame it on the government, and that many of them re-opened soon after under different management and are doing fine.

I personally don't go in enough pubs for it to worry me. I'd wouldn't mind people smoking in "drinking pubs", as I tend to frequent the "eating pubs" a lot more. I still have to run the gauntlet of smoke to get in them though...
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Mon 26 Sep 2011, 8:09, closed)