Cripple Creek Inn Raglan, Monmouthshire

A fresh new start
…at the Cripple Creek Inn

July 1st was a momentous day in the life of Cripple Creek Inn near Raglan, Monmouthshire There was no huge celebration or all out party and the day passed just like any other….but for Robert and Carolyn Clode, there was a major difference…gone for good was the smoky air, the stinky clothes and the watery eyes, as they took the plunge and introduced a smoke-free environment.

Robert and his wife Carolyn have owned the pub for nearly 10 years and they finally decided to take the brave step and go smoke-free this year. The Cripple Creek Inn is a popular pub with visitors from all over south east Wales, from the heads of the valleys to Cardiff. It’s the perfect stop off for those taking a spin out to the country to visit Raglan Castle or the garden centre and looking to enjoy a relaxing drink at a peaceful country pub. Visitors can now enjoy the fresh country air inside and out as pudding is the only thing guests will be craving at the end of their meal here.

Robert said, "The main reason for introducing the ban is that I think less people smoke today and when I noticed only 10 people were smoking in our 60 seat restaurant, I realised we had become a problem and a small number of people were ruining the enjoyment of the majority of our customers."

"We may have lost customers, but we’ve also gained some new ones. Putting the no smoking sign out by the front door has helped as people pass and come in now for that reason. I’ve always been a non smoker and I find it’s been really frustrating, what with Scotland and Ireland already smoke-free, it’s about time Wales introduced the ban as well."