No smoking at Cabot Circus
Smokers will be unable to light up in outdoor areas of Bristol's new £500 million Cabot Circus shopping centre when it opens next week.
Although most of the centre is undercover, open air sections including Quakers Friars will also be subject to a ban.
-
The only exception is an outdoor terrace for diners at celebrity chef Raymond Blanc's new restaurant.
Smoking has been illegal in all enclosed public areas in England for more than a year, with fines for smokers and businesses who break the rule.
The outdoor ban at Cabot Circus has been introduced by the centre management.
Cabot Circus will not be able to fine shoppers who smoke but shopping centre staff will have the power to escort anyone who breaks the rule off any premises they own, including Quakers Friars, the privately-owned public space billed as a European-style piazza.
Raymond Blanc has guaranteed, however, smokers will be able to enjoy their cigarettes in one small corner of the development, on the terrace outside his Brasserie Blanc restaurant, housed in the former register office in Quakers Friars.
Visiting his latest Brasserie yesterday, Blanc said: "I think smokers have been badly treated in this country and all over Europe. They are not treated well at all. In fact they are discriminated against.
"We want to provide a space outside the business for smokers. That's a fair thing to do."
Cabot Circus manager Richard Belt confirmed the rest of the Cabot Circus development, including Quakers Friars, would be smoke free when it opens on Thursday.
He said there would be prominent signs informing shoppers of the rules, and shopping centre staff would patrol both the inside and outdoor areas of the site.
Mr Belt said: "We are confident our customers will respect our decision to make the whole of Cabot Circus smoke free.
"Quakers Friars is a very special environment and I think it deserves that extra little bit of respect.
"There will be signage and we are not going to be like the Gestapo, but we will be asking our customers to refrain from smoking and I will be asking my security and customer service people to enforce that.
"We would ask people to be considerate and I think the vast majority of people will follow the rules."
Neil Rafferty from pro-smoking pressure group Forest said it should not be the job of shopping centre managers to worry about people's health or do the Government's job.
Mr Rafferty said: "All they are going to do is to alienate a large proportion of Bristol with this plan.
"It's a pretty sad day when private companies force people to change their lifestyles.
"They should provide smoking areas or large ashtrays to make life more convenient for all of their potential customers."
51 Comments
View all
by ow, Bristol
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 4:22PM
“Targeted again!!!
since the smoking ban everything seems to have gone up! I reakon the government shot there selfs in the foot on this one!!! ("THE SMOKING BAN"!!)
I bet they dont get half as much tax from us smokers who by packets of cigars or ciggerettes because will go abroad now and buy them cheaper!”
by Ali, Bristol
Monday, September 22 2008, 12:47PM
“Where do people put their rubbish whether it be a fag but, chocolate wrapper, empty crisp packet, take-away containers?? But carry on just blaming smokers for all that too eh? We are all suffering from the acts of terrorism with the lack of bins to protect us from these evil people. An article recently about a girl who found £117 in pennies on the pavements in Bristol - when compared to London was overwhelming as London cleans its streets and pavements more than Bristol does hence why she did so well. This is so funny though - from an article teaching smokers to suck eggs telling they can't smoke in the new shopping centre - we dont anyway in any other shopping centre because of law to this now about general rubbish makers. Same old though - smokers get the blame for everything. When we give up smoking we'll get the blame for taxes being doubled coz the government would have lost a major revenue. Blah blah blah - free country - bring it on trying to stop me smoking in my own home!”
by Mdisa, Bristol
Monday, September 22 2008, 10:24AM
“Well I have carried my own personal ash tray for approx 4 years now. I used to use bins prior to that. I NEVER throw my cigarettes on the floor. Any litter is disgusting.
I am also a mother of 2 children. NEVER will I smoke in a confined space with my children.... do you think I am stupid?
I do smoke, outside and out of the way, if out and about I try to find myself a quiet spot away from other people and have a few puffs of a cigarette to curb my craving, I then put my rubbish in my ash tray.
Allocated spaces for smokers, designated areas which provide ashtrays and some shelter away from other people should be provided by CC.
But to ban smoking completely is fascism. They allow plenty of bars in CC to go to which provide people with alcohol, which is a potential health hazard to other members of the general public (Quite amazing how some of you are so very concerned with a wisp of smoke and a cigarette butt in comparison with vomit and blood all over the streets)??? But unlike Roy Castle as previously mentioned, Roy's disease was caught through being around smoke in a confined area. In a supposed 'public' outdoor area, your risk to second hand smoke will be no more than walking past car exhausts in the traffic every morning on your way to CC. Or even whilst sat in you car waiting to get in CC's thieving car park.
Bristol needs shops that cater for Bristol, not Zara or Harvey Nichols - or a new cinema. (Of which we have plenty).
A swimming pool in Speedwell would be great though!
I also heard from a new member of staff due into CC this week that in many of these 'wonderful' shops there is designated work attire such as the minimal use of makeup to be lip gloss and mascara.....
Fascism at its height is in Bristol. RIP Bristol, I shall miss you and what we used to be. A diverse city which catered for all. Now its a simple case of the fat cats drawing in yet more fat cats...... we are no no different from any other city. Bye bye to our lushcious local shops with good clothes and food in abundance. Welcome to plastic city councils new shopping creation. (Of which we already had).”
by jojo, Bristol
Monday, September 22 2008, 9:46AM
“Listen please stop moaning, If you wanna go to Cabot Circus, go there, if not then dont.. there are lots of different shops, for everyone, their not all expensive are they? I have friends that smoke, you can do it after you shop, it just doesnt look nice when fag butts are left on the floor, thats all. Cribbs Causeway maybe free, but it takes an age to get there and how much petrol do you spend? Cheers then drive”
by Graeme, Knowle
Monday, September 22 2008, 6:29AM
“Have any of you considered the practicalies of the ban rather than bashing each other whether smoker or not. Since all the terrorism risks in all cities there has been a reduction in the number of litter bins in prominent areas. What do you smokers do when you are about to enter a shop? Take a final drag, drop the butt on the floor and go in? Or do you take a final drag, go to the nearest bin and then go back to the shop? Remember there's a fine for the wrong answer. Oh and I'm glad it's no smoking. I have children and for their health I don't want to have to follow a smoker who can't wait two hours for a cigarette whilst shopping. I also used to smoke.”