Pub beats smoking ban
May 27th 2009 A landlady in Barnsley has told regulars they can smoke in her pub - after a customer found a loophole in the law.
Kerry Fenton has turned her tap room into a 'Smoking Research Centre', according to reports in The Sun.
Provided customers fill in a questionnaire on their smoking habits to satisfy legal requirements, they can have a cigarette with their drink.
Trade is said to have doubled at the Cutting Edge at Worsbrough since Ms Fenton launched the centre earlier this month: "It's given business a shot in the arm and it's all in the name of research, legal and above aboard. I'm a non-smoker but I believe in the freedom of the individual."
Printer James Martin, 40, studied the smoking ban and believes a research centre can be introduced if a building has a separate room and no through bar.
He said: "I wanted a pub to smoke in before they all closed down. I studied details of the act closely, we drew up questionnaires and it's taken off in a big way.
"I've had inquiries from other pubs about introducing research centres and Im expecting many more to join in."
But Barnsley Council says it plans to enforce the ban. Regulations chief Simon Frow said: "The Cutting Edge is clearly not a research or test facility and is not exempt under the legislation." More articles from HSM News Desk: | 
