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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 13, 2009 16:43:37 GMT
Sorted! Get on to it Scholsey! ;D
Landlady transforms pub into 'smoking research centre' in legal loophole so customers can smoke indoors
By Chris Brooke
Last updated at 8:01 AM on 13th May 2009
Business boost: Landlady Kerry Fenton doubled her customer numbers after bringing back smoking in her Barnsley pub under a 'legal loophole'
With her pub struggling to survive, landlady Kerry Fenton needed a way to bring in business - fast.
So when one of her regulars claimed he had found a 'legal loophole' to get round the smoking ban, she decided to act on his advice.
Just five days later, customer numbers have quadrupled as word has spread about the 'smoking research centre' in the Cutting Edge pub in Barnsley.
James Martin, 40, studied the fine print of The Smoke-Free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007 to come up with a solution to his local pub's problems in the non-smoking era.
He worked out that a 'smoking research centre' could be introduced if the building has a separate room and no through bar. Customers would be allowed to smoke in the room after filling in a research questionnaire about their smoking habits.
Miss Fenton, 36, gave the smoking room the go ahead and is delighted with the results.
She said: 'Before our research centre opened we were lucky to get 10 people in at a weekend and we were struggling to survive.
'It's certainly given business a shot in the arm and it's all in the name of research, legal and above board. On Friday we had 29, on Saturday 31 and on Sunday 46 customers in the tap room.'
Now her secret is out, however, the authorities are likely to move to close the loophole and end the pub's evasion of the ban.
Miss Fenton, a non-smoker herself, asks smokers to put 50p in a charity box for a donation to cancer research.
Research: Kieron and Beverly Jubb light up after filling in a questionnaire
The questionnaires ask customers if their smoking habits have changed since the introduction of the new law and details of their age and how many cigarettes they smoke.
She said: 'I am collecting all the questionnaires and keeping them safely. I hope they can be used by academics in universities and colleges who are interested in studying the effects of this law.
'I am a non-smoker but I believe in the freedom of the individual. There is no good reason why people should not be allowed to smoke.'
Mr Martin, a printer, said: 'I wanted to have a pub to smoke in before they all closed down. I studied details of the act closely, we drew up the questionnaires and it's taken off in a big way.
'I have already had enquiries from other pubs about introducing research centres and I'm expecting many more to join in.'
Customers take full advantage of The Cutting Edge Pub's designated smoking research room
Yesterday news of the 'loophole' caused confusion in Whitehall with the Home Office and Department of Health referring enquiries to each other.
But local authorities are likely to show more interest.
Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, said it did 'not endorse this activity' and the licensee 'will be advised against' continuing with it.
The local council, which is responsible for enforcing the ban on smoking in public places, is also looking into the matter.
Simon Frow, Barnsley Council's head of Regulatory Services, said: 'The Cutting Edge is quite clearly not a research or test facility and as such is not exempt under the legislation quoted as an attempted "get out" clause.
'Therefore, the law requiring it to be smokefree applies and we will be enforcing it.'
The maximum penalty for permitting smoking on smokefree premises is a £2,500 fine.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on May 13, 2009 16:49:12 GMT
That's a wheel I'm afraid, LP! ;D
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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 13, 2009 16:50:36 GMT
Damn!  |
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Post by rvdowesmemoney on May 13, 2009 16:55:33 GMT
haha wheeled ;D
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Post by crimesy on May 13, 2009 16:57:23 GMT
How does that get round the problem, the problem is that people are doing it and pissing us non-smokers off. I've got a decent idea of getting round the problem - how about going 2 hours without a cigerette?
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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 13, 2009 17:01:48 GMT
How does that get round the problem, the problem is that people are doing it and pissing us non-smokers off. I've got a decent idea of getting round the problem - how about going 2 hours without a cigerette? This might surprise you Garfield but I wasn't REALLY suggesting that they allow smoking in the bogs and hand out survey questionnaires to make it legal! ;D I've gone 4 years without a cigarette by the way. |
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Post by GRUMPY 1 on May 13, 2009 17:16:29 GMT
I've gone 4 years without a cigarette by the way. Six years for me this time. ;D My record is 8 years.  Also did without for 4.5 years the first time I packed in. Makes you wonder if you can ever say you don't smoke ??? |
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Post by crimesy on May 13, 2009 17:17:53 GMT
I know but you suggested it as a joke which didn't make sense. Which made me get serious on the smoking issue which really pisses me off. ;D
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Post by th05 on May 13, 2009 17:22:26 GMT
There's been a debate on Radio 2 about this all day. I think its a great idea!
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Post by boothenender on May 13, 2009 19:09:54 GMT
the only sure-fire way of giving up the demon weed is to die from lung cancer......
simples................................
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Post by scoobster on May 13, 2009 19:45:54 GMT
dick
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Post by jbstokie on May 13, 2009 19:59:24 GMT
Bloody hell Garfield, Ryan is looking worse for wear on that picture ;D
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Post by actongatestokie on May 13, 2009 20:00:26 GMT
Forget legal loopholes.
A 10 quid extractor fan from Wilko's will do...
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Post by chrispk76 on May 13, 2009 21:04:37 GMT
sprinkler system would do the job
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Post by BraveSirRobin on May 13, 2009 21:07:24 GMT
in the bogs?.....i can think of an arcing yellow sprinkler system!
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Post by crimesy on May 13, 2009 21:51:56 GMT
Bloody hell Garfield, Ryan is looking worse for wear on that picture ;D I know, that vein on his forehead looks likely to burst any moment. ;D |
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Post by Beardy200 on May 13, 2009 22:34:52 GMT
Cadge one off someone else ...... works for me  |
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Post by Squeekster on May 13, 2009 22:48:33 GMT
Ouzie 9 millimetor you don't need please or thank you, you just need i'll be back. ;D
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Post by DannyStokie on May 13, 2009 23:03:02 GMT
cant we just install big vents, theres the fucking simple solution.....
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