A bit of a drag....

Well this is it smokers, the ban in public places comes into force from tomorrow. It will be good news for many non-smokers, like some I know, who simply avoid pubs with small enclosed bars. Unfortunately those bars tend to be the nice old fashioned snugs of the older and country pubs which are usually the places with all the character. Many of those ancient pubs will have the nicotine stained ceilings of several hundred years of clay pipes, cuban cigars, Marlboro's, Rothman's, B&H Embassy's and roll ups. Although, on the whole Tonbridge blog, is in favour of the ban, I can't help thinking that certain pubs will loose some of their character because of the ban. Only a couple of nights ago I sat in the main bar of the Ivy House in Tonbridge and watched as a few of the regulars puffed away, quite innocently, whilst chatting away with their friends. I'm sure that many a nervous groom has gone in that same bar on a Saturday afternoon for a last minute pint and a fag. It's a tricky one, so you have to say let's just see how it goes, but I guess what I'm driving at is it's just part of the scene in some older pubs. On the other hand I get annoyed when I hear some people say things like "If people don't like smoke then they don't have to go in there!" That is true, but sometimes it would be nice to go there without nearly choking and coming home with cloths and hair reeking of nicotine. Why should the smokers have it all their way? why should they drive people out of the pubs with the most traditional character. So on balance the ban is probably a good idea, but a certain part of me will miss that indescribable atmosphere created by the mixed smells of beer and baccy. Maybe landlords will be able to buy it in a can to spray around the saloon bar....