We all appreciate the chance to go to the theatre more often. There are some wonderful venues around the country and some really superb drama companies whose interpretations of old classics and brand new material are well worth seeing. However, the theatre is something most people like to experience in good company and this makes […]

I’m not a fan of smoking and was pleased when the smoking ban was introduced, but one thing I do miss is the atmosphere that a smoky room creates. One pub landlord has however found a loop hole in the law which allows her punters to enjoy both a pint and a smoke in their local, without having to pop outdoors every now and again to stand under some makeshift shelter. This loop hole allows smoking in the pub under the title of a smoking research centre which sees customers having to fill in a questionnaire before they are able to light up.
Could theatres now also take advantage of this loop hole and re-introduce the smoky atmosphere to their venues? Even actors cannot smoke on stage and the government are constantly encouraging smokers to quit with patches or counselling groups. There are even healthier smoking alternatives on the market such as the e-cigarette which does not contain tobacco or tar. In the future could we be asked to fill out a questionnaire while we sit in the theatre bar. I’m sure many smokers wouldn’t mind if they had to fill in a little bit of paper in order to be able to smoke indoors during the breaks.
With our health conscious society I very much doubt that we will see this return, although it is definitely something for theatres to think about, should they want to open a smoking bar and encourage more people to buy tickets for their shows.