Affects of the Smoking Ban in Pool and Snooker Halls

Laura Purcell

Has anyone got any feedback they can give me about the affects of the smoking ban in Ireland.

We are a leisure company in the UK operating 163 Pool and Snooker clubs, and are interested to know the impact the ban has had. Does anyone know of any snooker / pool clubs which have had to close following the ban.

Any comments/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

gerire

From my knowledge any of the REAL clubs are still going, yes a few were lost but its not really the smoking ban its just not as popular a sport as it used to be. I know the likes of Racecourse, Breaks, Spawell, Crossguns, Belgard and all the major clubs are still going well, yes it is slack season now with the summer but overall no real complaints.

If only the EU didn't ban the cigarette companies sponsoring the big events we'd still have an annual tour event over here

miju

personally i dont think the smoking ban has had any eefect in my local (Racecourse Inn) as a smoker myself we just adopted to the habit of instead of smoking over the table of every 2-3 frames popping out for a quick smoke , no bother at all everyone does it without moaning

actually , while it was initially very quie the racecourse has been really busy the last 2 months and thats been helped largely by a small internal league ( www.ribsa.org - for anyone interested )

while the numbers going to pubs has droppped off since the smoking ban the number of sales in off licenses has risen sharply (the publicans will tell you it's because of the ban but in reality is because of the price of a pint in alot of place)

super_furry

I'm a regular in the Belgard and aside from the improvement in the smell and atmosphere, there's been no change at all.

Sabre0001

I'm unsure if the smoking ban had an effect for pool/snooker halls...

I know that I as a punter am happier with a smokeless bar - I can see clearly now!!! (Though I don't have anything to blame for bad shots now!)

Then again I am a non-smoker...

Slippin Jimmy

Laura Purcell wrote:

Has anyone got any feedback they can give me about the affects of the smoking ban in Ireland.

We are a leisure company in the UK operating 163 Pool and Snooker clubs, and are interested to know the impact the ban has had. Does anyone know of any snooker / pool clubs which have had to close following the ban.

Any comments/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Personally I think that the smokeing ban was the best thing to happen in Snooker and Pool clubs. I myself am not a smoker and hate the smell of smoke. It used to be frustrating when you wnet into my local club and there was just smoke everywhere. It was horrible. Also when you use the cues suppied by the clubs, you hands would be a bit black from the ash off the cigarettes. That was a horrible feeling. I for one am glad of the ban.

weemcd

Have to say there is nothing like a smoke free snooker hall after having spent lots of time in ones that allow smoking. The whole experience is much more pleasant, especially when walking in you don't get this warm stale stink hitting you in the face.

As DonnybrookGhost already mentioned as far as the feel of the cues go, they generally feel much less scummy ( it was a habit of mine to give the cue a good wipe with my t-shirt, in a smoke free i can do this much less.)

I wouldn't be able to comment on the financial side and numbers etc, but from me, a non-smoker its a definite improvement. Also although everywhere is not the same, it reall takes away from the dirty, scummy back alley type feel that some snooker halls have, which could deter customers.

ryanah

Iv read a few threads from the above article, and wondered if the writers and I are living in the same country or not. I am directly involved in the Snooker and Pool business in the South of the country and in the past 2 years I know of 6 Snooker Clubs that have closed on account of the smoking ban.
Possibly the writers of the replies still go into their local Snooker Hall and play, but the question has to be asked `What time to they go in there?`. More than likely this would be at `peak time` 8---11 at night.
Those clubs that use to open at 10am, now open at 3pm. some that I know of dont open until eveningtime.Sales of Billiards equipment has plummeted, tables (full size) can now be bought for as little as €300

The whole social scene as changed. Snooker is now referred to as a `dead game`, with American quickly taking over. Pubs and clubs with their massive overheads : rates, insurance, wages, electricity, had to also increase prices, resulting in the social scene completly changing.
Those people that can afford to buy a Billiards table now entertain in their homes. Drink can now be bought at a fraction of the price from Supermarkets, home entertainmant is here to stay.
Who is to blame for all this?... Is it the smoking ban, is it rising costs, is it the `rip off` club and pub owners?
I am a smoker, also a Pool and Snooker player. I enjoy both games, but I could not see myself playing without a `fag`. On the few times I did play I found that the momentum was lost when I went out for a `smoke`. Whereas I would normally play for up to 3--4 hours a night (pre smoking ban) I would now only play for 1 hour.
The `Grim Reaper` has rung the death knell on Snooker !