Derby Hairy Dog boss tells PM 'industry is on its knees' in message over pub garden smoking ban
The landlord of the Hairy Dog pub has sent a stark message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, saying the proposed pub beer garden smoking ban could 'completely kill the industry'. Paul Keenan said the industry was "already on its knees" and has now written to the PM to urge him to reconsider the ban.
The proposals set out would see an extension of the 2007 Indoor smoking ban, and while the exact details remain unclear this could mean that smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, outside nightclubs, outside hospitals and sports grounds. While public health officials have welcomed the proposals hospitality industry chiefs have condemned the move.
This comes as industry leaders in the hospitality sector have warned it could be a final nail in the coffin following the cost of living crisis and the difficulties after the pandemic. Chief Executive of UKHospitality Kate Nicholls and the Vice Chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale Ash Corbett-Collins both warned that this could lead to a significant rise in "people choosing to drink at home".
READ MORE:Alvaston residents hit out over plans for new children's home and say 'it's a nightmare'
READ MORE:New Mickleover GP surgery and school delayed so more homes can be built first
In his letter to the Prime Minister Mr Keenan said: "As it stands approximately 1000 Pubs are closing per year, with 80 pubs closing per month at the start of 2024, and these figures will certainly increase should customers be unable to smoke outside the premises either."
Mr Keenan sits at the heart of Derby's hospitality industry, owning one of the city's most popular venues, drawing in crowds from up and down the country to a variety of different events to the Becket Street site. Previously Mr Keenan has expressed how he has been affected by the changes in the hospitality sector with his sister bar, The Hound Dog, having to close due to a lack of footfall and lack of drink sales.
Previously when asked to justify the smoking ban the Prime Minister has said: "My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer. It is important to get the balance right, but everybody, who uses the NHS will know that it’s on its knees."
In the letter, Mr Keenan also set out why the proposed ban wouldn’t affect the burden on the NHS due to people who smoke. The owner wrote: “Of the £2.5b- £3b spent by the NHS on tobacco-related issues, less than 1% comes from cases regarding second-hand smoke, and of those cases most will not be from outside areas. Should this plan be introduced, the licensed industry will be decimated, as rising costs already have a lot of us on our knees.”
While the plans for the ban are still unconfirmed, ministers have not ruled out the idea of extending the smoking ban. Critics fear the proposals would also have an adverse effect on establishments such as shisha bars and events including festivals. That is one of the factors that Mr Keenan sets out in his letter, writing: "it will also affect other licensed premises such as shisha bars, festivals, golf courses, racecourses etc. This is a monumental number of businesses which will take a huge financial hit should the plan be imposed."
Additionally, new data from property advisor Altus has shown that more than 50 pubs are closing their doors every month, as pubs tackle rising costs and hefty tax burdens.
Mr Keenan continued: “I’ve spoken to a few landlords across Derby and they have expressed it would just push them over the edge financially. With 20 pubs shutting down every week this would just accelerate this and completely kill the hospitality industry. I don’t understand why they are focusing so narrowly on smoking when things like obesity cost the NHS £6bn, what are you going to do - ban Domino's?”
Chief executive of UKHospitality Kate Nicholls added: “You only have to look back to the significant pub closures we saw after the indoor smoking ban to see the potential impact it could have. It must also assess whether such a ban would achieve its aims of meaningfully reducing smoking or simply relocate smoking elsewhere, such as in the home.”
Mr Keenan ends his letter by urging the PM to reconsider these plans which would hit “an industry already fighting to survive”.