Smoky Dance Floors - Where to find them :sick:

[Andy McGregor]

Within the "Smoking and Dancing Don't Mix" thread there's a growing list of venues that allow smoking. This thread is such a long one that it's hard to find the list of venues to avoid if you'd like to dance in a smoke-free atmosphere.

So, as a service to dancers I've started this thread which is specifically to name (and shame) the venues (and venue operators) where you can breathe cigarette smoke on the dance floor. Please feel free to add to this list, either by posting your addition here or by sending me a PM. So that all the venues are easy to find please copy and paste the whole list then add your venue to it. Also, please put the name of the organisation as that might influence things higher up if there's a big organisation behind the classes. This way only the last posting contains the up to date list and we can also remove venues as and when they ban smoking. And so that nobody is picked on we should keep this list in alphabetical order.

Here is the current list I've gleaned from the thread;

Ashtons - Ceroc
Bekhamstead - Ceroc
Bletchley - Ceroc
Bromley - Ceroc
Kempston - Ceroc
Northampton - Ceroc
Party Weekender
Twyford - Ceroc

Anyone notice that nearly all of them have something in common? Can anyone feel their cheeks start to glow, are they feeling any pressure to consider the health of their staff and customers yet?

[Lounge Lizard]

I was a Ashtons last night , I hate the smell of smoke and I thought it was fine there, not smokey at all - probably best you name and shame from first hand information rather than heresay

[stewart38]

Originally Posted by Andy McGregor

.

So, as a service to dancers I've started this thread which is specifically to name (and shame) the venues (and venue operators) where you can breathe cigarette smoke on the dance floor.

At Berkhampsted as far as Im aware its in the bar area only, are you looking for a list where smoking is allowed in the bar area or dance floor ?

There is a difference and if you include bar area that list would grow big time.

Some bars are totally seperate to dance floor some are not ie open up on to dance floor

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by Lounge Lizard

I was a Ashtons last night , I hate the smell of smoke and I thought it was fine there, not smokey at all - probably best you name and shame from first hand information rather than heresay

Just because you can not taste the pee in the pool doesn't mean that there's none there

I went to Ashtons recently, they instructed smokers to smoke down the left hand side of the dance floor as you look at the stage. Which part of that isn't first-hand information?

Not smelling smoke and knowing that a venue is a non-smoking venue are two different things. So, it isn't me that's got it wrong, but I'd hate to prove LL wrong - maybe he could ask them next time he visits.

If you are telling me that Ashtons have changed their policy we can chalk that up as a success for the anti-smoking campaign but, as far as I know - and I've just had it confirmed by an Ashtons regular, it is still permitted to smoke next to the dance floor, just not on all sides

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by stewart38

At Berkhampsted as far as Im aware its in the bar area only, are you looking for a list where smoking is allowed in the bar area or dance floor ?

There is a difference and if you include bar area that list would grow big time.

Some bars are totally seperate to dance floor some are not ie open up on to dance floor

To use the swimming pool example. If there are two pools and they share the same water you will be exposed to the pee which enters at one end.

If the smoking section, bar or otherwise, shares the same space/air as the dancing it is an example of smoke and dancing being mixed - and I think that is what we really don't want. Smoking in a bar separated by 2 doors is completely acceptable and one door probably acceptable if the smoke isn't drawn into the room by the opening and closing of the door

[Andy McGregor]

An addition I've just received by PM - keep 'em coming

Ashtons - Ceroc
Bekhamstead - Ceroc
Bletchley - Ceroc
Boppin' Weekend Trinity Leroc (smoking table by the stage )
Bromley - Ceroc
Kempston - Ceroc
Northampton - Ceroc
Party Weekender
Twyford - Ceroc

.. anyone know if Rochester Ceroc is still a smoking venue?

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Lounge Lizard

I was a Ashtons last night , I hate the smell of smoke and I thought it was fine there, not smokey at all

I've been there more than once (only on Saturday nights) when it's been quite unpleasant too.

Chris

[MartinHarper]

Given stewart's comments, perhaps the master list might provide a little more detail as to the level of smoking, and how close it is to the dance floor?

Eg:
Ashtons - Ceroc - smoking permitted on one side of the dance floor.
Berkhampsted - Ceroc - smoking permitted in (seperate?) bar area
(etc)

On a side note, just because smoking is permitted, does not necessarilly mean that there is a "smoky dance floor". Equally, just because smoking is not permitted, does not necessarilly mean that the dance floor is smoke-free.

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

Given stewart's comments, perhaps the master list might provide a little more detail as to the level of smoking, and how close it is to the dance floor?

Eg:
Ashtons - Ceroc - smoking permitted on one side of the dance floor.
Berkhampsted - Ceroc - smoking permitted in (seperate?) bar area
(etc)

I think this is quite simple. If it's in the same room as the dancing it's a smoking venue. If there's a bar in the same room and smoking is allowed at the bar it's a smoking venue. If smoking is allowed in a different room or outside it's a non-smoking dance venue. It's the mixing of dancing and smoking that people object to, not the smoking itself, that's down to the choice of the individual.

Although we'd love it if our friends and family didn't smoke, of course

[Sheepman]

Originally Posted by Andy McGregor

I think this is quite simple.

I reckon your description is pretty foolproof.
I haven't been to Ashton's since the demolition squad moved in, but whenever I did go, I found it very unpleasantly smoky.

Greg

[lindyloo]

If you are telling me that Ashtons have changed their policy we can chalk that up as a success for the anti-smoking campaign but, as far as I know - and I've just had it confirmed by an Ashtons regular, it is still permitted to smoke next to the dance floor, just not on all sides [/quote]

Just to confirm that nobody at Ashtons is allowed to smoke NEXT to the dance floor. It is correct that smoking is still permitted down one side but at the tables (there is a wide walkway between the tables and the dance floor).

We are unable to ban smoking at Ashtons completely as the management smoke and on the basis that they usually charge £5000 or more to rent the hall out, I'm not going to push it! However we have now limited it to just the one side and we have put up signs and do make announcements every week.

What I would say is that in a venue as big as Ashtons, and it's probably the biggest dance floor in London hired by a dance organisation, with the highest ceilings and a large balcony area on the 2nd floor it hasn't been a problem (especially in our new room) In fact I'd go as far to say that I've not had one complaint (and I can show you our comments book that we leave out every week)

I would agree that in church, village, town halls and the smaller venue it is more of an issue. Hence the reason we do not allow it at Harrow, Watford, The Casbah and Twickenham. Ashton's is very different.

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by lindyloo

Just to confirm that nobody at Ashtons is allowed to smoke NEXT to the dance floor. It is correct that smoking is still permitted down one side but at the tables (there is a wide walkway between the tables and the dance floor).

I love Lindyloo but I'm afraid this argument is a bit like saying you can only pee in one lane of the swimming pool and saying that so long as you leave a one lane gap you won't be swimming in pee.

However, she does have a point about the size of the venue and that diluting the smoke. The question is, why not ban smoking? All but a handful of smokers are happy to go outside and have their fags, I sure the staff could do that too, they do it in hospitals - and, as the survey on here shows most dancers would prefer a non-smoking venue.

So, I still can't see a vilid excuse for Astons to remain a smoking venue. Can anyone else?

[jivecat]

Wellingborough - Ceroc Central.

There were ashtrays on all the tables- an invitation to smoke, and the people on the table next to ours made full use of them. We all went home last night with smoky hair and clothes, not to mention lungs, they still smell of smoke now. Absolutely unnecessary as the building is a working men's club with at least 2 other separate bars where people could have gone to smoke.

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by jivecat

Wellingborough - Ceroc Central.

There were ashtrays on all the tables- an invitation to smoke, and the people on the table next to ours made full use of them. We all went home last night with smoky hair and clothes, not to mention lungs, they still smell of smoke now. Absolutely unnecessary as the building is a working men's club with at least 2 other separate bars where people could have gone to smoke.

I've had a PM about Welling Ceroc being a smoking venue - is this the same place as Wellingborough?

Also, I've had a PM telling me Ginger Jive at Greenham allow smoking - does anyone know which other Ginger Jive venues allow smoking? Please let me know as at the moment the list of smoking venues looks like a vendetta against Ceroc. This is not the case and may be a function of them having the most venues. Also, I think there are some other Ceroc Kent venues that haven't been listed. The last time I went to Rochester it was very smoky but that was a year ago and things might have changed.


The up to date list of smoking venues looks like this.

Ashtons - Ceroc
Bekhamstead - Ceroc
Bletchley - Ceroc
Boppin' Weekend - Trinity Leroc
Bromley - Ceroc
Greenham Dances - Ginger Jive
Kempston - Ceroc
Northampton - Ceroc
Party Weekender
Twyford - Ceroc
Wellingborough - Ceroc.

[MartinHarper]

Originally Posted by Andy McGregor

I still can't see a valid excuse for Astons to remain a smoking venue. Can anyone else?

There's one in the post you're responding to:

Originally Posted by lindyloo

We are unable to ban smoking at Ashtons completely as the management smoke and on the basis that they usually charge £5000 or more to rent the hall out, I'm not going to push it!

Fancy donating £5000 to Ashton's to cover the increased costs?

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

There's one in the post you're responding to:



Fancy donating £5000 to Ashton's to cover the increased costs?

I'm just listing the MJ venues that allow smoking. Ashtons allow smoking, the venue gets listed.

Ceroc may not be able/willing/brave enough to ask the Management of Ashtons to smoke outside - but there's no reason why they can't make not smoking a condition of entry for their cusomers - none that I can see.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Andy McGregor

but there's no reason why they can't make not smoking a condition of entry for their cusomers - none that I can see.

Can't rep you again yet, but...

[Whitebeard]

As it happens I'm a smoker although, in my case, it's minature cigars and strangely enough I find the smell of ordinary cigarettes quite objectionable. But I realise that to others they may be equally offensive and am quite happy, and always do, to go outside the dance hall to indulge my bad habit. It's a chance to cool off as well and if I miss a really good track that's my bad luck.

Go outside for a breath of fresh air, smoke a cigar, how stupid can you get !!

That said, it's the sheer stuffiness and heat generated by so many gyrating bodies that gets to me.

[lindyloo]

[quote=Andy McGregor]I love Lindyloo
Ooo, why thankyou, I didn't know you felt like this, I'll ban smoking altogether from today!

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by lindyloo

Ooo, why thankyou, I didn't know you felt like this,

Doesn't everyone?

Originally Posted by lindyloo

I'll ban smoking altogether from today!