Smoking ban sparks boom

THE ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which comes into force in England on Sunday, has lit up a host of opportunities for entrepreneurs across Greater Manchester. Stockport-based Aardvark Concrete has been benefiting as demand grows for outdoor smoking areas.

THE ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which comes into force in England on Sunday, has lit up a host of opportunities for entrepreneurs across Greater Manchester.

Stockport-based Aardvark Concrete has been benefiting as demand grows for outdoor smoking areas.

Managing director John Kilroe said the business has been inundated with orders from companies, pubs and restaurants.

One of its biggest contracts was from Royal London Insurance , which commissioned two paved areas and two smoking shelters for the grounds of its offices in Wilmslow.

Another came from The Cotton Tree, a pub in Hyde, where landlord Peter Suska installed a lean-to as a smoking shelter.

Claremont Interiors has been commissioned to redesign outdoor areas at United Utilities' Warrington headquarters to accommodate smokers among the energy giant's 2,500 staff based there.

A covered walkway has plants and seating and will be heated during the winter.

Ken Bundy, an associate director at Claremont, said: "Big budgets are being used to redesign outdoor areas as a place for employees to go to relax during the day.

Heated debate

"Corporations have been dismissing cheaper products on the market such as ventilated huts for smokers, as they feel this will cause separation and alienation between smoking and non-smoking employees."

Garden designer Brendan Vaughan has created a range of heated smoking shelters in a bid to beat the ban.

The shelters are made of steel and include hardwood seating for up to 10 people as well as built-in pots for plants and flowers.

Brendan, of Bury, used to be a pipe fitter before he turned to garden design. He said: "I'm a smoker myself and I don't fancy having to stand outside in the cold when I want a cigarette.

"The idea of these shelters is that they will be a real meeting place. People will be able to sit in them and chat for a couple of hours, because the seating will be comfortable, they will be sheltered from the rain and the heaters will keep out the chill.

"I have done a lot of research into the smoking ban and how it will affect pubs. In Scotland and Ireland there has been a real loss of trade.

"Hopefully my smoking shelters will help businesses stopping that from happening here."