Landlady Emma Chapman co-hosted the event with pro-choice group Freedom2Choose as a way of showing she valued her smoking customers. She took advantage of promoting the national organisation Freedom2Choose to air smokers’ views and campaign for their rights.
Phil Johnson, pub and club liaison officer for Freedom2Choose said, “It was incredible to see a pub so full. Hundreds made it to the event over the three evenings and it was exciting to hear the encouraging chatter as people read through our literature and discussed choice.”
“I was overwhelmed with how many had ventured to the festival. All enjoyed the speeches and the live music. It shows how many oppose the blanket smoking-ban and support those campaigning for choice.”
Emma has seen her business decline dramatically since the introduction of the smoking ban, and has held the festival each year ever since. This was the largest by far, with live music, speeches, raffles and stalls available throughout the weekend for those who attended.
Emma was delighted with the popularity of the festival, particularly as five local pubs had just thirty-two customers between them in total. She intends to continue with the events in conjunction with Freedom2Choose to gain the grass-roots support for the introduction of choice.
Spokesperson:
