Reading pub owners have voiced their concerns about the proposed ban on outdoor smoking, fearing a detrimental impact on their businesses.

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is looking at tougher rules on outdoor smoking to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to tobacco use.

Responding to reports that smoking could be banned in some outdoor spaces in England, the prime minister said "we have got to take action" to reduce the burden on the NHS.

The Chronicle spoke to pubs across Reading who gave us their views on the proposed changes.

Landlady of the Palmer Tavern, Samantha, expresses her dismay at the proposed ban, saying: "This is devastating news.

"We are just getting back to how it was before Covid and they are throwing another curveball at us.

"It’s just completely unfair and soul destroying."

With 60% of her clientele being smokers, she fears losing customers, particularly her older clientele who might decide to stay home, reminiscing the lockdown months.

Apart from losing customers, she also has concerns for businesses with small outdoor areas.

"It’s good that I have a big garden and I could have a dedicated smoking area… but for people with a small outdoor area, customers are just going to be pushed out onto the pavement."

Sharing his opinion, Stuart McNaught, manager of the Purple Turtle, criticised the leaked document for its untimeliness and for how it could affect the traditional pub scene.

He said: "I think it is ridiculous. No new government would put something like this in place within the first 100 days in office... It would kill traditional pubs."

He expressed concern about the heavy investments made during Covid on outdoor areas, suggesting instead that the government should concentrate on preventing people from vaping.

David, the deputy manager at the rising sun, alluded to the proposed ban as an interesting proposal.

He said: "I think it would have some impact but it would be testing to see how it would land."

He believes that pubs should have the autonomy to decide on smoking regulations themselves, thus allowing customers to choose their preferences.

Echoing the sentiments, Nigel Farage, speaking on GBNews, warned that the ban could lead to the end of the British boozer.

He argued that such a ban would symbolize a massive government overreach and furthermore, create a potential danger of creating an illegal market for tobacco.

Mr Farage told GBNews: "If you ban people smoking in gardens and ban people smoking outside the front of pubs, that is the end of the British pub.

"It will be gone."

He further stressed the likelihood of an increase in illegal activities saying, "if you turn...the price of a legal activity into effectively an illegal activity, you hand it straight to the criminal gangs."

Overall, the proposed ban has stirred unease in the pub community, with fears of a significant dent in sales and potential escalation in illicit trading.

From pub owners to politicians, the move is not seen favorably on many fronts.