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| TIME PLEASE: Manager Joe Fisher outside The Hog's Head in Weymouth |
A TOWN centre pub in Weymouth is to stop trading on Sunday.
Manager Joe Fisher said he and eight staff at the Hog's Head in Frederick Place, Weymouth, are upset by the news.
He said: "It's upsetting and our customers are sad because they don't really know where they are going to drink and watch sport - they like our staff and the pub's atmosphere.
"But the smoking ban has just killed the pub industry."
The Hog's Head is one of 100 loss-making outlets being closed by the Laurel Pub Company - which owns high street brands including Slug and Lettuce, Yates and Litten Tree.
The company is thought to have become a victim of the credit crunch and a drop in trade since last year's smoking ban.
Mr Fisher, who has managed the Hog's Head pub for three-and-a-half years, said: "For us it wasn't even that bad a situation.
"Over the last year we managed to convert a huge amount of our trade from drink to food and we managed to get solid family day time trade.
"But unfortunately most pubs are 20 to 30 per cent in decline now and we can't keep the place open just because we want to."
Three full-time and five part-time staff work at the pub and most have managed to secure new employment.
Mr Fisher and his partner Kerrie will relocate to London where he also hopes to have secured a new job.
He said: "I think Laurel are looking for other companies to buy the lease here but they haven't found anyone yet.
"We have all put a huge amount of time and effort into this place and so want to say farewell with more of a celebration on Friday and Saturday night.
"We are trying not to look at it as a totally negative thing."
Geoff Petherick, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council spokesman for employment and prosperity, said: "It is very sad news when anything closes down like this.
"But at the moment it is a sign of the general economic situation."
He added he would like to see another large company take over the premises.
A spokesman for Yates' in Weymouth said the pub would remain open.
9:00am Friday 21st March 2008
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CommentPosted by: johnthetyke, Rotherham on 11:08am Fri 21 Mar 08
Well done anti smoking lobby. Soon there will be no pubs left in which you can go and enjoy a smoke free environment. Smokers were told that there would be an increase in people visiting pubs now that smokers had been banned, WRONG AGAIN.
What next for you PC morons........I know, why don't you start a campaign to ban the serving of food in restaurants.....the threat of spreading passive cholesterol must be life threatening. Will you be content when you have destroyed all forms of social interaction?
Well done anti smoking lobby. Soon there will be no pubs left in which you can go and enjoy a smoke free environment. Smokers were told that there would be an increase in people visiting pubs now that smokers had been banned, WRONG AGAIN.
What next for you PC morons........I know, why don't you start a campaign to ban the serving of food in restaurants.....the threat of spreading passive cholesterol must be life threatening. Will you be content when you have destroyed all forms of social interaction?
Posted by: Scolopax, Wyke Regis on 11:18am Fri 21 Mar 08
John, if you could see Weymouth on most weekend nights you'd understand that the Smoking Ban has nothing to do with this closure. All the pubs are full to brimming, spilling onto the streets in fact. You may also note that the chain which owns the Hogshead has another pub in the town which, strangely, is doing all right. The smoking ban has made the world a better palce for the majority.
John, if you could see Weymouth on most weekend nights you'd understand that the Smoking Ban has nothing to do with this closure. All the pubs are full to brimming, spilling onto the streets in fact. You may also note that the chain which owns the Hogshead has another pub in the town which, strangely, is doing all right. The smoking ban has made the world a better palce for the majority.
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 11:38am Fri 21 Mar 08
The reason its closing is because it overpriced and no atmosphere and run by a manager not a landlord.
The No smoking ban is just a poor excuse
The reason its closing is because it overpriced and no atmosphere and run by a manager not a landlord.
The No smoking ban is just a poor excuse
Posted by: Mike, Portland on 12:52pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Weymouth has got plenty of pubs to spare so no one will go without.
Weymouth has got plenty of pubs to spare so no one will go without.
Posted by: johnthetyke, Rotherham on 1:03pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Ah Scolopax, I do not see Weymouth on most weekend nights. I come two or three weeks a year, and when I've been here even in the height of season, most of the pubs are empty. Don't believe me ask the landlord/manager how the takings have decreased. The same goes for the hostelries that I have visited in St.Ives, Torquay and Cheddar recently. The working mens' clubs which were the hub of social activity where I live are closing in droves. The majority of folk who use these establishments smoke. There are six rooms in my local club and yet the majority of the clientelle are not allowed to use ONE of them in which to smoke. What happened to freedom of choice?
I used to live in a country that was proud to call itself free, now the only growth industry in this country is for firms who produce prohibitive signs.......No parking, No dogs, alcohol free zone, no eating, no smoking, no cycling,no diving, no swimming, no anything.
All this whilst being under twenty-four hour surveillance from endless CCTV cameras.
George Orwell was wrong, but only by 24 years it should have been 2008 not 1984.
Well that's that off my chest see you all in Weymouth again soon.
How many more pubs will have closed by then I wonder?
PS. Yogi I agree with your comments about the Hogshead. It was never a pub, just another plastic palace, mass produced by the pub chains to represent their idea of a good pub.
Ah Scolopax, I do not see Weymouth on most weekend nights. I come two or three weeks a year, and when I've been here even in the height of season, most of the pubs are empty. Don't believe me ask the landlord/manager how the takings have decreased. The same goes for the hostelries that I have visited in St.Ives, Torquay and Cheddar recently. The working mens' clubs which were the hub of social activity where I live are closing in droves. The majority of folk who use these establishments smoke. There are six rooms in my local club and yet the majority of the clientelle are not allowed to use ONE of them in which to smoke. What happened to freedom of choice?
I used to live in a country that was proud to call itself free, now the only growth industry in this country is for firms who produce prohibitive signs.......No parking, No dogs, alcohol free zone, no eating, no smoking, no cycling,no diving, no swimming, no anything.
All this whilst being under twenty-four hour surveillance from endless CCTV cameras.
George Orwell was wrong, but only by 24 years it should have been 2008 not 1984.
Well that's that off my chest see you all in Weymouth again soon.
How many more pubs will have closed by then I wonder?
PS. Yogi I agree with your comments about the Hogshead. It was never a pub, just another plastic palace, mass produced by the pub chains to represent their idea of a good pub.
Posted by: CoogarUK, Dorchester on 6:04pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Roll on "No ranting"
Posted by: not-in-my-name, UK on 7:33pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Over 1,500 pubs have closed their doors since the smoking ban. Check out freedom2choose.info they have loads of information on closures. What you have to consider is what this government has done, banned the use of a legal product from which it itself collects £4 out of every £5 spent and they have banned this legal product on private property. Pubs are not publically owned they are privately owned whether smoking takes place on the premises should be the owners choice and no one elses. Governments that want to control private places are communist roll on the next election.
Over 1,500 pubs have closed their doors since the smoking ban. Check out freedom2choose.info they have loads of information on closures. What you have to consider is what this government has done, banned the use of a legal product from which it itself collects £4 out of every £5 spent and they have banned this legal product on private property. Pubs are not publically owned they are privately owned whether smoking takes place on the premises should be the owners choice and no one elses. Governments that want to control private places are communist roll on the next election.
Posted by: Eddie D, Scotland on 7:42pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Those in denial that the Smoking Ban is not the cause of the devastation of the hospitality industry must belong to the " Flat Earth " Society.
Those in denial that the Smoking Ban is not the cause of the devastation of the hospitality industry must belong to the " Flat Earth " Society.
Posted by: Bill, Dorset on 8:18pm Fri 21 Mar 08
End or amend this draconian smoking ban. Bring back choice and hopefully stem the 4 pubs per day closing their doors for the final time.
Scolopax - how do you know it is better for the majority? Does this justify ignoring at least 25% of adults that do smoke? I think not.
End or amend this draconian smoking ban. Bring back choice and hopefully stem the 4 pubs per day closing their doors for the final time.
Scolopax - how do you know it is better for the majority? Does this justify ignoring at least 25% of adults that do smoke? I think not.
Posted by: mandy vincent, banitland on 8:22pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Wait until the little kiddies under 21 cannot drink in them either, no worries, they can still go to war and die for the lies this government feed them. Just not allowed to buy legal products. You will be allowed a gun though.
Wait until the little kiddies under 21 cannot drink in them either, no worries, they can still go to war and die for the lies this government feed them. Just not allowed to buy legal products. You will be allowed a gun though.
Posted by: DaveA100, NuLabour's Concentration camp on 8:44pm Fri 21 Mar 08
With 1500 pubs closed already since the ban and supermarket booze already cheap before it came in, could someone more erudite than me explain?
With 1500 pubs closed already since the ban and supermarket booze already cheap before it came in, could someone more erudite than me explain?
Posted by: Scolopax, Wyke Regis on 10:14pm Fri 21 Mar 08
1500 pubs closed since the ban. I'd like to kwow how many closed the year before and the year before that, I suspect a similar number, looks like 'natural wastage' to me , how many pubs are there in the country and how many new openings each year? Judge these things on facts, not hype.
1500 pubs closed since the ban. I'd like to kwow how many closed the year before and the year before that, I suspect a similar number, looks like 'natural wastage' to me , how many pubs are there in the country and how many new openings each year? Judge these things on facts, not hype.
Posted by: Scolopax, Wyke Regis on 10:20pm Fri 21 Mar 08
p.s. Bill if 25% represent the somkers the remainder are the majority (that's 75% in case you're wondering)
p.s. Bill if 25% represent the somkers the remainder are the majority (that's 75% in case you're wondering)
Posted by: Scolopax, Wyke Regis on 10:23pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Apologies for my pismellings.
Apologies for my pismellings.
Posted by: Jan Gibbons, Manchester on 10:32pm Fri 21 Mar 08
This draconian smoking ban is the reason that all these pubs are closing down. Smokers may only be 25% of the adult population but their non-smoking friends are staying away from the pubs too, many now prefering house parties. Also the encouragement of children into pubs to try & make up for the smokers is just making people stay away even more! Give pubs back to the adults for them to enjoy the adult persuits of drinking & smoking in comfort, they are not licensed nurseries!
This draconian smoking ban is the reason that all these pubs are closing down. Smokers may only be 25% of the adult population but their non-smoking friends are staying away from the pubs too, many now prefering house parties. Also the encouragement of children into pubs to try & make up for the smokers is just making people stay away even more! Give pubs back to the adults for them to enjoy the adult persuits of drinking & smoking in comfort, they are not licensed nurseries!
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 10:49am Sat 22 Mar 08
What a sad lot you smokers are.
The pub trade had over a year to prepare for the smoking ban but a lot pubs. just burying there heads in the sand and did nothing about it.
Come on get over it and get used to it.
Pubs were shutting every year in big numbers before the smoking ban its no different now.
What a sad lot you smokers are.
The pub trade had over a year to prepare for the smoking ban but a lot pubs. just burying there heads in the sand and did nothing about it.
Come on get over it and get used to it.
Pubs were shutting every year in big numbers before the smoking ban its no different now.
Posted by: Dorset Boy, Wilds of Dorset on 5:56pm Sat 22 Mar 08
I note that all the comments relate to the Smoking ban, Has no-one noticed that every year the Goverment add more tax onto the price of Beer, wines and spirits, thus adding to the cost of an evening out in the pub.
I note that all the comments relate to the Smoking ban, Has no-one noticed that every year the Goverment add more tax onto the price of Beer, wines and spirits, thus adding to the cost of an evening out in the pub.
Posted by: chris whittaker, U.K on 9:04pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Yogi,
Landlocked pubs have no chance, as they have no space even for a smoking shelter ( which are not popular anyway ) and last year over 1400 pubs shut ,the year before it was only 200 so this proves there is a massive increase since the smoking ban !! ,Smoking and drinking taste great together so people will never happily accept doing it separately especially in the cold ,wet and windy British weather !
Yogi,
Landlocked pubs have no chance, as they have no space even for a smoking shelter ( which are not popular anyway ) and last year over 1400 pubs shut ,the year before it was only 200 so this proves there is a massive increase since the smoking ban !! ,Smoking and drinking taste great together so people will never happily accept doing it separately especially in the cold ,wet and windy British weather !
Posted by: Fishman68, Weymouth on 12:58pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]chris whittaker[/bold] wrote:
Yogi, Landlocked pubs have no chance, as they have no space even for a smoking shelter ( which are not popular anyway ) and last year over 1400 pubs shut ,the year before it was only 200 so this proves there is a massive increase since the smoking ban !! ,Smoking and drinking taste great together so people will never happily accept doing it separately especially in the cold ,wet and windy British weather ![/quote] Chris, not wishing to rant but as a reformed non-smoker (for 5years now) I really pity your attitude, the reality is that Smoking will kill you sooner or later. There is no way on earth that smoking enhances any taste cause your breathe stinks like a soggy ash tray! so unless your drinking tar on tap I very much doubt your statement. I am intrigued, that the weather seems to have influence on your habit does this mean if it’s sunny you wouldn’t bother polluting your lungs or the air around you. I think the nicotine might have something to say! The reality is that smoking sucks your money away, shortens your life and wrecks your ability taste or smell, what a wonderful product no wonder it’s legal given the tax revenue the government make out of it! Try quitting it will change your life and improve the taste of beer and you’ll be much richer for it.
chris whittaker wrote:
Yogi, Landlocked pubs have no chance, as they have no space even for a smoking shelter ( which are not popular anyway ) and last year over 1400 pubs shut ,the year before it was only 200 so this proves there is a massive increase since the smoking ban !! ,Smoking and drinking taste great together so people will never happily accept doing it separately especially in the cold ,wet and windy British weather !
Chris, not wishing to rant but as a reformed non-smoker (for 5years now) I really pity your attitude, the reality is that Smoking will kill you sooner or later. There is no way on earth that smoking enhances any taste cause your breathe stinks like a soggy ash tray! so unless your drinking tar on tap I very much doubt your statement. I am intrigued, that the weather seems to have influence on your habit does this mean if it’s sunny you wouldn’t bother polluting your lungs or the air around you. I think the nicotine might have something to say! The reality is that smoking sucks your money away, shortens your life and wrecks your ability taste or smell, what a wonderful product no wonder it’s legal given the tax revenue the government make out of it! Try quitting it will change your life and improve the taste of beer and you’ll be much richer for it.
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