The Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn, 11th May, 2005

Spent many a good evening here over the years. One Christmas, The Salvation Army came in, small brass band in a confined area - talk about LOUD!

Tend not to go to pubs much these days, for me it was always about a few pints, ciggies and lively conversation and fun. I even liked the smell of stale Ale and smoke that would waft out before opening times. All too sanitised today. Still think it should have been the landlord and staff who decided whether or not their pub should allow smoking or not - not have a ban forced upon them by government.

I'm a non-smoker but appreciate what you say. It makes sense! I don't like the idea that people are ostracised for their addiction. I don't see why non-drinkers should be allowed in pubs!

The hidden agenda is now only being realised. When the callous comments made on Radio 5 Live by a Labour MP recently are taken into consideration. What is the problem? There were to many pubs anyway . Dreadful, these are peoples livelihoods at risk. Not to mention the destruction of communities.

Not keen on children in pubs either - when we were young, our parents took my brother and me to the beer garden at The Pirate in the summer, and during the winter, we were left in the car with crisps and coke, so never actually went inside the pub.

WHAT?! Left in a car, on our own and unsupervised?! Someone call Social Services!!!

Without going too heavy on you, until you have experienced what I have experienced (and I hope you never do), you cannot appreciate just what it means to me to have establishments governed by present ruling (as ridiculously designed and applied as they are). No tobacco please. It is all very well talking about rights, but this is one area that I support wholly any official intervention.

I only smoke when I run fast!

Glad to hear it; but like driving, your life depends not upon one's own driving skills or the engineering and safety of the vehicle that one drives, but on Eccles (Goons) driving the vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Be safe.

and when all our pubs are closed and replaced by second rate establishments calling themselves restaurants, what then? A pub was a place you went to have a drink with maybe the odd bar snack being made available. Mostly unqualified in any catering qualifications and worse still food safety training... The mind boggles. Would you like a dose of staphylococcus aureus with your pint of ale sir. On the other hand the anti smoking crowd have got their way. Unfortunately the Val Doonigan gardigan brigade with I'll have a half a bitter and a packet of nuts please will fail to keep our public houses open.

I quite agree on the ridiculous food and hygeine laws as they stand ( I first came against them when working on the almshouse designs for Paul), this nation is becoming overcontrolled to the extent that we will soon forget common sense and the ability to look after ourselves without checking in the books which have been written by idiots and know nothings with no experience of life itself. If only they would take a look at previous generations and how they survived. I feel that the change in social drinking and eating places has come about more on the general lack of 'spending money' and on the less sociable side of society, in home entertainment etc, rather than any move (albeit stupidly) towards the Nanny State.

missp's kitchen was graded at 5 stars in October. Mainly down to the fact that she is qualified both in preparation and hygiene. We are lost on the differentiation of pub and restaurant these days. Strangely you do not see this on the continent where these laws are supposed to originate from. The UK governments use the EU as an excuse to pass laws that they consider as vote winners. I have visited Spain, France, Italy and Greece since these supposed smoking bans came in. The only countries I know of who strictly abide by them are Ireland and the UK....and that is a fact. A lot of eating astablishments abroad uphold the smoking ban, which I agree with whole heartedly. In the tavernas no one cares. Strange that they are all managing to carry on as a business and make money without any problems. Everybody just gets on with their everyday lives. We cannot say that about our little island can we?