[pubmanager]

Times are hard for pub's in general - particularly pub companies - it's easy to blame the smoking ban but I'm not convinced (reasons for this are way off topic and a little dull so I won't elaborate here).

Good pubs & bars run by good managers, still make good money. It's the grotty little back-street boozers where people smoke 5 fags to every pint that are suffering.

Anecdotally: I am a smoker, I go to the pub just as much and I don't drink any less because of the ban. I don't know many people who don't go to bars just because they can't smoke inside.

Also my mates are huge fans of "smirting" (smoking & flirting). Before, you were just another guy - now you're an approachable person with a common interest and something to talk about.