SMOKING BAN LIGHTS UP DHP TAKINGS 

DHP Group, the premier live music and club operator in the Midlands, has reported no drop in sales or visitors since the introduction of the smoking ban on July 1. 

In a direct contrast to the predicted slump in the number of people visiting pubs and clubs, the company, which owns and manages venues including Rock City in Nottingham and the Thekla in Bristol, has actually seen numbers in some venues increase.  

At The Social in Nottingham, takings are up by a significant percentage and there are already plans to double the size of the outdoor area to accommodate the extra people using the space.

Managing director George Akins says that ultimately the area outside could be larger than the indoor floor space. “For us it was important that smokers continued to feel welcome in our venues once the ban came into force, and as such we have put a lot of effort into creating attractive outdoor spaces that smokers will want to use.  

“The result of this has been more and more people coming to sit outside – I suppose in a city centre there are a limited number of places able to offer an exterior smoking area and news has travelled as to what we’ve got here.”  

The outdoor areas have also proved popular at other DHP venues, where reactions to the ban have generally been positive. Rock City and Stealth are the only two clubs in Nottingham city centre to offer an exterior smoking area and the Thekla in Bristol is also benefiting from its outside deck area.

George added, “Not only are we seeing plenty of people outside, despite the poor weather, we’re also finding the smoke-free interiors are more popular too.”  

ENDS

For further PR information contact Kate Downs or Kathryn Greenwood at Eden PR on 0115 852 4717, fax 0115 950 9175 or email kate@edenpr.co.uk or Kathryn@edenpr.co.uk

Notes DHP runs Rock City along with The Rescue Rooms, Stealth and The Social which are other smaller music venues around Nottingham City Centre, with a total nightly capacity of 4000 people. DHP is the premier live music and club operator in the Midlands, with more than 500 shows per year in its own venues with club nights five nights per week and two public bars open seven nights a week.