2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Neil Shaw)
A landlord has defended a move to ban all smoking at his pub - arguing it's not 'woke' and will attract more customers than it will lose. The 72-year-old, a non-smoker himself, believes the move will appeal to those wanting to enjoy a drink or a meal outside without being engulfed in clouds of second-hand smoke. But Mr Garrod has defended his ban - which he believes could be a UK-first - saying his pub is more for eating than drinking.
"So, the obvious action to take is to stop smoking within the garden, for the comfort of the majority. "Through the summer, the garden gets very, very busy with people eating." Smoking was banned inside pubs and restaurants across most of the UK in 2007, but the rules did not extend to outside spaces such as beer gardens.
Despite Labour's u-turn on an outdoor smoking ban, Mr Garrod decided to impose his own rules anyway, with customers now having to leave the Hope Inn's premises entirely to smoke. Mr Garrod explained that those who refuse to comply will be politely asked to stop, adding that there are many other venues nearby they could choose to visit instead where they can smoke. "There are some good pubs in the area, which I reckon is where the drinkers and the smokers go.
Non-smoker Debbie Marsh also disagreed with the move, saying: "I've never smoked in my life, but I don't agree with that. Another woman, Sophie Pendragon, commented: "One of my few joys left is a cigarette and a glass of wine in a pub garden. Andy Heath simply wrote: "Go woke, go broke.
" But the pub has also won supporters with its move, with Ann Longstaff amongst those backing the ban. "A lot of people sit outside in the lovely garden area, not just smokers, just to enjoy the nicer and sunshine, with their dogs after a nice walk, for example, so I don't see what's 'woke' about it." Despite the complaints, Mr Garrod remains undeterred and says the support he's also received - both on social media and in person - is reassuring.
"But smokers don't smell smoke, so they don't appreciate the discomfort other people are going through. "I think we'll probably gain business over it. "I think we may be the first to do it, but we won't be the last.
Whilst smoking is now banned, vaping is affected by the new rule for now. Mr Garrod, whose wife Noiy runs the pub's adjoining Thai street food restaurant, believes vaping is less intrusive, but says he will 'see how it goes'..
