Nice Places to Smoke

[RhiannonBW]

Hi All

Now the Summer is over :confused: maybe we could share places that offer some shelter for the beleagured cigar smoker? I think we have it soooo much tougher than the cigarette smokers, after all, a decent cigar is a time commitment, not a quick 3 minute nicotine fix.

I love the Cigar Shacks at the Hotel du Vin chains, though they don't have them at all hotels, and unfortunately, Birmingham Hotel du Vin is one of the ones that misses out. Our nearest Hotel du Vin with a cigar shack is Cheltenham.

Bar Epernay is listed as a good cigar smoking venue on the H&F site but I can see it from my office window, and it's an exposed terrace, only offered some shelter now due to the behemoth 'Cube' being built next to it. Certainly not an option for inclement weather.

So which corners of this fair isle have you found offer shelter from the elements for the cigar smoker?

Rhiannon

[Wildwood]

Hi Rhiannon,

Can't think of any places around my neck of the woods (Berwickshire/NE England)...perhaps in Edinburgh, though I suspect any there are pretty snooty/exclusive/expensive. With the smoking ban, I'm not sure any places can operate like that any more...but would love to be proved wrong on that one.

Looks like I'm stuck with my patio! :(

I understand some care homes can have smoking rooms...so as senility gallops towards me, perhaps there is some light at the end of the tunnel! :rolleyes:

Wildwood

[RhiannonBW]

Hotel du Vin can be quite pricey, but a coffee is only a couple of quid and it can last a loooooooonnnnngggggg time!

I've smoked in their Cigar Shacks at Cheltenham, Tunbridge Wells and Henley on Thames.

Rhiannon

[Robusto]

Psychiatric institutions can keep their snout huts, apparently. So we could play out the scenes in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I'll be the big Indian guy. :D

There is a bar in Canterbury that was a restaurant and cigar bar combined. Good selection of stogies if I wanted a single one on the way past, and great perfumed atmosphere to hang around in, and blow into.

Because of the smoking ban, they dropped the Havanas completely. They didn't even keep some behind the bar for people to buy and enjoy on the patio.

I'm shipwrecked down here, I tell you!

[Wildwood]

It's all a bit crazy.

I read somewhere that the smoking ban means you can get arrested for smoking in a cigar shop, but can smoke in the Police car driving you to the Nick, and then in the interview room of the Nick itself!

Logic, anyone?

BTW, if I read that on this forum, then I really am going senile...never mind, you can all visit me in the Home, and we can all light up together! Because "we're worth it"! :)

Wildwood

[cohibaIV]

Hi All

I love the Cigar Shacks at the Hotel du Vin chains, though they don't have them at all hotels, and unfortunately, Birmingham Hotel du Vin is one of the ones that misses out. Our nearest Hotel du Vin with a cigar shack is Cheltenham.

Rhiannon

I am taking the good lady away for the weekend in Bristol in a couple of weeks...:D

And I am lead to beleave that they have a walk in humi and a Cigar shack..:D

Can you imagine my expression when I learn of this for the first time upon our arrival..hehehe;).

[RhiannonBW]

I was lucky enough to be at the last indoor cigar dinner held at Bristol Hotel du Vin. I haven't returned since the ban, but I do remember they had a very impressive humidor.

Rhiannon

[cohibaIV]

Is it a nice place then Rhiannon?
Looks ok on the web..

[smokiejoe]

A freind told me that in exeter we have a bar now called cohiba,must check this place out and see what its all about.knowing my luck its a coffee bar and has nothing to do with cigars at all.:rolleyes:

[RhiannonBW]

Is it a nice place then Rhiannon?
Looks ok on the web..

We had a really nice room when we stayed there, absolutely massive, and the bathroom was quite an experience. Roll top bath, monsoon shower, large sized toiletries they encourage you to take home . . . .

Of course, as it's a Hotel du Vin the wine and food were excellent too.

I've noticed recently a few issues with staffing, I think the management policies have changed and the staff seem a little bit dis-heartened, but still far better than many other boutique chain hotels. Don't even get me started on Malmaison!

Rhiannon

[cohibaIV]

Cheers for that, should be a good weekend...

[Montesmoke]

A freind told me that in exeter we have a bar now called cohiba,must check this place out and see what its all about.knowing my luck its a coffee bar and has nothing to do with cigars at all.:rolleyes:

That be a result for you if it is a cigar bar!

[smokiejoe]

It would be bloody handy monte.im going into town later this week to pick up my boys birthday pressie so might pop down and check it out.See what happens.

[Wildwood]

Smokiejoe,

Don't want to crush your hopes, but looked it up on the web and it appears to be a Tapas bar.

See link:
http://www.havanagoodtime.co.uk/cohiba_contact.php

Can't see them having a cigar lounge... :(

Hope I'm wrong for your sake. If not, maybe you could get them under Trades Description...?

Wildwood

[Montesmoke]

Oh well:rolleyes:
Maybe i should get a bus & start a mobile smoking lounge called "Monte's Lounge" i could come visit all you guys, then we could fire up cigars in the in the bus with Large drinks cabinet of course!:D id stick do the gratefriut juice as i will be driving!

[smokiejoe]

Hey monte good idea mate just as long as you have loads of cigars mate as i can get through a few,lol.tipical as i have just looked on internet about this cohiba bar and yes wildwood it looks like your right my old son.grrrrrrr.have to go back to plan B and start a smoking haven at my workshop,hmmmm idea there,lol.:rolleyes:i could even open the windows and piss the sheep off in the fields,he he he.

[Montesmoke]

"Montes Herf Bus" i could get a desent size camper & you could convert it Smokiejoe:D

[Montesmoke]

The herf tour!!:D

[Wildwood]

I'd be happy to make the cocktails, though of course we'd need appropriate serving wenches/clippies to dish them out...:D

Only trouble is, I'm getting Cliff Richard/Summer Holiday image here...otherwise sounds pretty perfect! :D

Wildwood

[smokiejoe]

loads of wenches and big cigars and plenty of smoke.HEAVEN,,,,,,the hurf bus is a coming,lol.:cool:

[Montesmoke]

I'd be happy to make the cocktails, though of course we'd need appropriate serving wenches/clippies to dish them out...:D

Only trouble is, I'm getting Cliff Richard/Summer Holiday image here...otherwise sounds pretty perfect! :D

Wildwood

Get the EK1 band playing on top deck:D

[Montesmoke]

Got any buses for sale down your way smokie?? it sounds like a plan having a herf bus!:cool:

[smokiejoe]

lol.wouldnt it be a laff mate touring around the country with bloody great big cigars hanging out our gobs with bry(ROBUSTO),AT THE WHEEL.LOL:D,it would look so funny mate as the bus was driving along with loads of smoke pouring out of the windows and a load of old guys puffin on huge cigars.lol.:D when shall we start building it.

[Montesmoke]

Haha:D yea that would be great, pulling up outside bars & pubs blowing out the smoke, shouting out this is the way to go no smoking bans here!!
cruise down the coast, have a beach front smoke.
Yea would be good mate.
Keep your eyes peeled for a bus for sale!:cool:

[smokiejoe]

I tell ya you could have a bloody laff or too,lol.will keep my eyes peeled for ya.lol;MONTES HERF BUS.

[Robusto]

Monte - EK1 (we) recently opened a builders' merchant close to home and had to play on the back of a builders' truck. Fortunately it was too windy to have the publicity blimp flying above us. That would have been undignified.

We play Camra Real Ale festivals (a hoot). Genuine music festivals. We open supermarkets, and that - my friends - is so gay it is a hoot!

We'd certainly be ready to play top deck on a stogie bus!!! There are five out of seven of us who smoke. I'm the only cigar man. The two who don't smoke like it when I light up because it reminds them of Christmas lol. I've tried to wean the others off the fags with cigars. They like em, but of course inhale the smoke deeply as they are cigarette men. I give them counselling about how to smoke cigars properly. Poor guys will never get off their white-stick-fix.

Back of a truck playing and so on appeals to my sense of the ridiculous so, so much!

[smokiejoe]

Ive got a big horse lorrie,plenty of room in there,has a cooker seats and tv,and a bed if ya get lucky with the serving wenches,lol.