UK: Smoking ban to result in 'smoke-easy' investment for Kent Brewer's Pubs

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame announced on February 15 it has reacted positively to news of the Government's decision to ban smoking in every pub and club in England without exemption.

Says chief executive Jonathan Neame, "There will be winners and losers when the ban comes into force next year but the fact that there are no exemptions for private clubs is good news for pubs. A total ban also gives clarity for our customers.

"Within our 370 pubs, we have already embarked on a significant investment programme in outdoor spaces in anticipation of a ban. We're planning to build on these foundations, in the next fifteen months, to ensure we can offer our smoking customers pleasant, comfortable smoking areas, which we are calling 'smoke-easys'.

"With around 200 listed buildings in our care, we need to identify what will be acceptable in terms of structures being added or removed from existing buildings.

"90% of our pubs already enjoy an outside space and the company is well-placed to enhance existing facilities. We're keen to give our licensees and customers the best possible facilities when the ban comes into force in summer 2007.

"Certainly, there is a section of the community which doesn't visit pubs as they consider them to be smoky environments. Similarly, there are those who won't work behind a bar because of the risk of passive smoking. This is clearly an opportunity to attract these people back into our pubs."

The brewery's plans to roll-out its 'smoke-easy' scheme across all of its 370 south east pubs will ensure that smokers don't get left out in the cold. It is estimated that the cost of the scheme will be in the region of £5-10,000 per pub, with a total investment of £3 million projected for the entire estate.

'Smoke-easys' will be created from existing outdoor areas using canopies and patio heaters to ensure that smokers have comfortable smoking areas.

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