The English pub is in mortal danger

At least the author isn't blaming the smoking ban for the demise of the British pub - or the ruination of the brewing industry as some doomsayers would have us believe.

It's interesting, but that mixture of rose-coloured nostalgia, Golden Age arguments and final paragraphs comprising simply of subjective preferences rather than any factual, evidence-based conclusions remind me of why I never read the Telegraph.

yep, agreed it is interesting, but rambling and random too - but if you think that, read some of the comments & one link in particular to some pro-smoking campaign with seeming support from Churchill! (& I don't mean the insurance dog mascot off the TV) cheers MikeMcG