Inner city pubs were hardest hit by smoking ban

Conducted by CR Consulting for the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign, the research found that between seven and eleven pubs per constituency have closed down.

Areas that have been hardest hit are in inner cities, including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh and Nottingham.

"The data show large numbers of traditional drink-led urban pubs shutting down. These are in areas with traditionally quite high levels of smoking so it would appear that regulars who used to enjoy a pint and a cigarette with friends have decided to stay at home instead," said Oliver Griffiths, director of CR Consulting.

Renewed calls for smoking ban review​

Simon Clark, director of the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign called on MPs to address the issue.

“Local communities cannot afford to go on losing pubs at the present rate,” he said.

“The Coalition Government must review the smoking ban and consider options that bring us into line with most other countries in Europe where smoking is permitted in separate smoking rooms or designated smoking bars.”

Labour constituencies suffer most​

According to the data released in the report, the areas with the greatest levels of pub closures are in Labour-held constituencies with an average of almost eleven pubs per Labour constituency, compared to 9.9 pubs per Liberal Democrat constituency and 7.6 pubs per Conservative constituency.

“Labour was the principal architect of the smoking ban. It is ironic therefore that pubs in Labour-held constituencies have suffered the most,” said Clark.

David Nuttall, MP for Bury North who last year called for a change to the smoking ban, said, “This report confirms what many people have seen in their own area. Local pubs are closing down and in my view one of the contributing factors is the impact of the smoking ban. It is time the legislation was reviewed to allow for a sensible compromise.”