PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a roof-top garden for smokers at a York nightclub.

The garden, to be created on a flat roof at Nexus, in George Hudson Street, will allow clubbers to carry on lighting up when the ban on smoking indoors comes into force on July 1.

It will cater for about 30 people at any one time, with access from both floors of the club, and will be covered by CCTV cameras.

Russ Brown, managing director of Nexus owners McMillan York Ltd, said the company had come up with the proposals after carrying out research in Edinburgh, where a smoking ban is already in place.

"July 1 really will be a very interesting time for the pub and club industry," he said.

"The smoking ban poses a real challenge for the whole pub and club industry, but it's a challenge we are ready to tackle."

He said the garden, which will cost between £20,000 and £40,000 to create, will benefit smokers and non-smokers, who would enjoy cleaner air inside the venue and no lingering smell of smoke on clothes and hair.

"We strongly believe people have the right to smoke should they choose to do so and realise smoking is an important part of a great night out for some people," he said.

"Instead of making smokers feel like lepers, we are aiming to make them feel as comfortable as possible with this rooftop smoking area.

"It will be will be designed and fitted out to a high standard, heated all year round and, as far as I know, is the first rooftop garden for clubbers in the city.

"I think it will be a real winner with all our guests - not just our smoking customers."

The area, enclosed on all sides by high walls, will be planted to give it a garden feel, and will be equipped with tables and chairs, along with patio-style heaters.

Mr Brown had said previously McMillan York Ltd was in the process of designing a similar roof-top facility for its other city centre bar, bpm.


Landlords in rush to meet July deadline

OTHER pubs and clubs in York have been preparing for the smoking ban in a variety of ways.

Those with existing beer gardens - for example, The Lighthorseman, in Fulford Road - have tended to apply for permission to put up giant umbrellas and heaters to shelter smokers in bad weather.

Pubs without beer gardens, such as The Stone Roses, in King Street, are dealing with the problem by seeking permission for canopies over the pavement outside. But customers in such cases will not be allowed to take their drink outside with them.

Jim Hardy, landlord of The Bluebell Inn, in Fossgate, has said previously that customers wanting to smoke would just have to stand in the street, but it would help if Fossgate was pedestrianised.

Gareth Vickers, the manager of The Keystones pub, in Monkgate, said some time ago that he had already put up some sheltering for smokers and planned to put more up.

Jill Green, landlady of The Deramore Arms, in Heslington, has said previously that she planned to invest £15,000 in outdoor facilities for smokers, but remained concerned about the lack of detailed guidelines.

York nightclub Toffs has applied for a variation of its premises licence to alter the layout and create an outdoor smoking terrace on land neighbouring the premises in Toft Green.