RIP Pressure Point?

[Barrel of Fun]

"A venue has been forced to close its doors after business slumped following the introduction of the smoking ban.

Pressure Point, in Richmond Place, Brighton, is now in the process of being sold and it is unclear whether its new owner plans to reopen it as a bar or club."


Venue Closes Because Of Smoking Ban (from The Argus)</title>

Is the smoking ban solely responsible for a drop in pub trade?

I have always thought the Pressure Point was dirty and quite tatty. In fact, much of that area could do with a good clean and a lick of paint and cut down on the amount of traffic thundering past.

 

[REDLAND]

it should have always remained The Richmond, it was a good boozer back then ..

 

[steward 433]

Is the smoking ban solely responsible for a drop in pub trade?

Fraid so!!!

Where my mate lives in Scotland it came in 6 months earlier. Within a year the number of pubs had gone from 8 down to 3!!!

Same has happened in loads of small Scottish villages and towns but the larger cities have fared a bit better.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

I can understand it with old folk but why do these eco savvy 'save the world' youngsters not worry about the crap they take into their lungs?

Nobody under the age of 35 can have any excuse for not knowing the dangers of smoking, even if they can't smell how much they reek of the stuff. It really annoys me that these bright young things arew stupid enough to even start smoking.

I'm more inclined, as the Argus comments, to think that it's just badly run. The Albert always seems pretty full and that's a live music venue.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I can honestly say in all my life I have never ever heard a business blame itself for going bust. Someone or something else is always to blame. I recall Ken Livingstone (I think) arguing the toss with a chief exec of a London business which was blaming his congestion charge for a drop in business. Ken said something along the lines of 'two years ago it was September the 11th, last year it was blah blah and now its the congestion charge.....have you ever thought it might be you?'

Same here. One swallow doesnt make a summer. There are plenty of pubs still going strong post smoking ban. Let's wait a little longer to chart the effect.

 

[steward 433]

I can honestly say in all my life I have never ever heard a business blame itself for going bust. Someone or something else is always to blame. I recall Ken Livingstone (I think) arguing the toss with a chief exec of a London business which was blaming his congestion charge for a drop in business. Ken said something along the lines of 'two years ago it was September the 11th, last year it was blah blah and now its the congestion charge.....have you ever thought it might be you?'

Same here. One swallow doesnt make a summer. There are plenty of pubs still going strong post smoking ban. Let's wait a little longer to chart the effect.

See Scotland who have had it 6 months longer

 

[Jamon Jamon]

the smoking ban is simply the straw that broke the camel's back, pubs were already in decline, longer opening hours for people with only so much money to spend, getting drunk being seen more and more as a social no no, the price of a pint compaired to a case from Asda and the fact that more and more can't possibly go to the pub unless there a football match showing to avoid them having to talk to someone, I go to the pub more now

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

See Scotland who have had it 6 months longer

That's Scotland though. Socioeconomics will differ in Brighton.

 

[steward 433]

That's Scotland though. Socioeconomics will differ in Brighton.

True as it has hit the small villages hardest whilst the big cities have hardly been affected

 

[Barrel of Fun]

From The Daily Reckoning

"....the experience in both Scotland and Ireland has generally been a lot more positive than many people had predicted. In Ireland the RTE national New Year’s Poll for 2004 found that people in favour of a ban in pubs and restaurants had grown from 67% before the legislation to as many as 82% after its introduction. And almost universal support for the ban had been achieved one year after it was brought in.

It’s a similar scenario in Scotland, which went smoke- free in March 2006, with support for the ban running at only 56% immediately prior to the legislation, compared with 69% just one month after implementation. This represents a dramatic turnaround from the 67% of people who were against it in a survey taken at the end of 2004."


I am definitely in favour of the ban and I say that as a smoker. I don't see how someone could withdraw their custom from a pub due to a smoking ban..?

 

[steward 433]

I am definitely in favour of the ban and I say that as a smoker. I don't see how someone could withdraw their custom from a pub due to a smoking ban..?

I am also a smoker and i won't go in a pub now if i can help it!!

I still believe that the ban has gone too far YES i agree if food is being served then ban, If a landlord want's the ban then fine. BUT also believe that certain pubs which should be licensed should still allow smokers.

Just my opinion like!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

True as it has hit the small villages hardest whilst the big cities have hardly been affected

I accept it will have an effect in some places but Brighton seems just like it always did. The pubs and bars I go to are showing now discernible difference in numbers. In fact I know some smokers who say they prefer the smoking ban. It is an easy escape route from a boring conversation (I'm going to go for a cig, see ya later) and you meet new people outside the boozer lighting up.

Also worth noting is a number of new pubs have opened in past year or so. The Fountain is one. And there are two others I think...cannot remember where though. Remember someone telling me this.

The ban has been in effect for a year now and this is the first pub out of 400 I have heard having to close down. I think Brighton will adapt and survive in the main.

 

[steward 433]

Think Brighton will be OK as it is quite a large city!

Worthing has had 5 pubs shut in the last two years and only one new one open so it looks like it will affect us more here.

 

[Gully]

...have they pulled down area 51 and slappers yet, or are they still there?

 

[steward 433]

...have they pulled down area 51 and slappers yet, or are they still there?

They are out of the ground building a new block of flats already

 

[Robbie G]

Maybe the latest downturn in pubs is due to people have less money to spend on leisure, due perhaps to rising fuel costs, food etc.

I think the smoking ban is great, but then I would say that as a non-smoker

 

[NMH]

Smoke used to hide the stench in crowded pubs, of people.
Now, you can smell them, and see them easier.

 

[Wardy]

The pub in Eastbourne that I drink in, has in fact had an increase in trade since the smoking ban. The key is, like with change in any other business, dealing with the change. Every business has to deal with changes. They have two options, mange the change and get on with it, or moan about it and keep living in the past.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Fraid so!!!

Where my mate lives in Scotland it came in 6 months earlier. Within a year the number of pubs had gone from 8 down to 3!!!

Same has happened in loads of small Scottish villages and towns but the larger cities have fared a bit better.

Nothing to do with the rising price of beer then?

 

[Don't get me started]

More government laws being introduced with no thought for the consequences.

I hate smoke in pubs and am a non smoker (ex smoker actually so I am the worst) however I think a pub should declare itself one or the other that way we can all choose.

I cant sit outside at my local no for the smell of smoke.