Award-winning landlord joins refrain of criticism over smoking ban

The owner of Britain’s best pub garden has joined the chorus of criticism over Labour‘s proposed smoking ban, warning that it is a ‘problem’ and was not properly ‘thought through’.

Simon Colquhoun, 47, owns the Gaggle of Geese, in Buckland Newton, Dorchester – current holder of the best pub garden award, awarded by The Best British Awards.

The garden has a total of five acres – including a glamping and camping site as well as a mini golf course, double decker bus and a kids play area.

But Mr Colquhoun, admitting that inflation sent pub operation costs skyrocketing, says that any policy that ‘stops people coming to our pubs is a problem’.

‘The smoking ban has had a major impact on pubs,’ he said, adding: ‘I’m not sure this has been thought through.’

It comes as the Government is considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor venues in an effort to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressures on the NHS. 

‘It’s a tough time for pubs at the moment and inflation last year meant everything shot up,’ Mr Colquhoun explained. 

‘Our running costs went up by 40 per cent, last year. We are fortunate that we are not just a pub – this could be another thing that affects them.’

The kids’ playing area at the Gaggle of Geese was already a non-smoking, non-vaping area, but still he fears that the Government has not thought about the impact an overall ban will have on pubs

‘Anything that stops people coming to our pubs is a problem,’ he said.

Industry leaders have warned that the proposed plans to ban outdoor smoking, including in beer gardens and outside stadiums, would be another ‘nail in the coffin’ for pubs and bars.

According to leaked proposals seen by The Sun newspaper, the Government is set to ban smoking in some outdoor areas to improve public health.

The indoor smoking ban could be extended to cover other locations including small parks, outdoor restaurants and hospitals.

Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Paris: ‘My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That’s a preventable death.

‘It’s a huge burden on the NHS, and, of course, it’s a burden on the taxpayer. So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space.

‘More details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths, and we’ve got to take the action to reduce the burden on the NHS and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.’

He added: ‘I think it’s important to get the balance right, but everybody watching this who uses the NHS will know that it’s on its knees.

‘We have to relieve the burden, and that’s why I spoke before the election about moving to a preventative model when it comes to health.’

Reem Ibrahim, acting director of communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs thinktank, said banning outdoor smoking would be ‘another nail in the coffin for the pub industry’.

She said: ‘The Government’s own impact assessment concluded that banning smoking outdoors will lead to pub closures and job losses.

‘Pubs and other private venues should be able to determine their own outdoor smoking rules – just as they should be allowed to decide whether to play music, serve food or show football on TV.’

She added: ‘The Government should look to countries like Sweden, which has attained the lowest prevalence of smoking in the world not by implementing nanny state measures like this proposal, but by allowing adults to choose safer and healthier products.’

Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, told the PA news agency the proposed smoking ban raises a ‘libertarian issue’.

He said: ‘The question is whether the Government should interfere in individual liberties where danger is involved.

‘Mountaineering is dangerous, for example. Horse riding, statistically, causes many serious injuries. I don’t think it will have a big effect on our business, one way or the other, and is really a libertarian issue.’

In 2007, under the last Labour government, smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces was made illegal across the UK.

According to health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in the year following the introduction of smoke-free laws, there was a 2.4 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks in England, saving the NHS £8.4million in the first year alone.

The first year after the introduction of the indoor smoking ban also saw a 12.3 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for childhood asthma, equivalent to 6,803 fewer admissions over three years.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to crack down on smoking through his flagship Tobacco and Vapes Bill last year.

The Bill – dubbed the ‘greatest piece of public health legislation in a generation’ – had earned wide cross-party support and was progressing through Parliament when the general election was called.

Charities and health experts were dismayed when the Bill was shelved as a result.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: ‘The priority is to get the Bill back in Parliament and put on the statute book, to end smoking for the next generation and curb youth vaping.

‘ASH would support the inclusion of powers to extend smoke-free laws outdoors, subject to consultation.’

She added: ‘However, it’s also important to ensure that there are still outdoor areas where people who smoke can smoke in the open air, rather than inside their homes.’

A YouGov poll on Thursday suggested that 58 per cent of British adults support banning smoking in pub gardens and outside restaurants.

The polling company reported that 35 per cent say they would oppose the measure. YouGov asked 3,715 people on August 29.