On 21/06/15 01:26, alan_m wrote:

On 19/06/2015 14:05, GMM wrote:

I think it should be positively promoted in pubs[1]: The smoking ban
has been a significant factor in the high level of pub closures in
recent years. By promoting vaping, pubs could bring in custom to help
their viability and encourage people to quit the fags at the same time,
restoring a valued national institution and doing significant good for
public health.

[1] I'm sure it's already the case in some, but none that I've been in
around here

Pubs were closing at a high rate before the smoking ban. The rate of
closure did increase after the ban but this coincided with economic
crisis. Many 'pub companies' with hundreds of pubs were run as property
companies. The financial model was to borrow on the value of property in
the hope it would rise in value. The financial crisis meant that some of
these companies were seriously in debt and had to get shot of their
property. Pubs are often worth more as housing stock rather than being
a viable retail business.

The are are many other reason that pubs are closing including alcoholic
drink in supermarkets being a quarter to a third of the price of the
equivalent in a pub and/or stricter control on drink driving.

While the 'trade' may blame smoking as a cause I suggest that many
causes may be closer to home. Too many publicans seem to believe that
the public owe then a living rather than providing a service.

I still see very successfully busy pubs in areas where other pubs a few
hundred yards away are completely empty. I still see pubs opening and
attracting a 'traditional' trade. I still see successful publicans
taking over multiple failing pubs and turning them around.


I was in Tonbridge (Kent) yesterday and had to kill 2 1/2 hours wating
for daughter and was not driving.

"I know - I'll go to the pub and read the paper on my phone..."

I knew there are no pubs neat the station so walked on down the high
street towards the river and castle ruins:

1 The Castle pub on the river - closed, covered in scaffold.

2 The Wharf pub on the river - derelict.

3 Ye Olde Chequers Inn - could not tell if it was actually open. If it
was they did not want any customers as it looked dark, doors closed.

4 Ended up in the Slug and Lettuce - basically a shiny coffee shop that
happens to sell "beer". Well, lager and guinness and a bugger of a lot
of shots. It was comfortable and the WIFI worked and there was a bit of
a view of the castle if you say right. But it was not a pub and the beer
choice was non existent.


1) used to be quite popular and you could sit on the river.

2) Nice old wharfage type barn right on the riverside. Tripadvisor
suggest it was run by goons who would ticket your car in their car park
as soon as you stepped off the premised for 90 seconds to use the ATM.

3) Tripadvisor has mixed reviews on the B&B side from good to crap.



Now - tell me - when you have 3 pubs in a location like this with high
passing footfall:



how in ****'s name do you **** that up?