July 1 2007 was thought to be the final nail in the coffin for smokers and tobacco retailers in the UK, when the government introduced the indoor smoking ban. Nearly eight years later, there are more places than ever providing outdoor areas to smoke.
Billowing demand
The number of cigar-friendly terraces in London has increased over the past few years, with many venues having their own humidors and cigar sommeliers. “Hotels, bars and restaurants are seeing cigar smokers as good clients due to the fact that they tend to spend more on fine wines and spirits as they match vintage spirits with a vintage cigar,” says Mike Choi, Edward Sahakian Cigar Shop manager.
Cigar sales have been increasing; whilst still not recovering to their peak of the late 1980s to mid-90s, growth has been steady and in the right direction. Choi observes a marked increase in guests from China, Hong Kong and the Middle East. “The new found wealth in China has been well documented and it has been felt in London. Chinese cigar collectors are coming here to buy rare and vintage cigars as their own market cannot supply them and they say there are too many fake cigars in Asia,” says Choi.
Choice venues
The Edward Sahakian Cigar Shop has become one of the destination cigar venues in the country, lavishly styled by Italian designers Antonio Citterio and Patricia Veil to give the ambiance of an exclusive member’s club. Don’t expect to walk into a cloud of smoke as fresh air is pumped in constantly which works alongside a powerful extraction system and two purification systems. The three custom-made humidors are by Italian designer Massimo de Munari of Cigar Times DeArt.
The Churchill Room cigar terrace at the Wellesley offers an exciting collection of cigars for the aficionado, from vintage Havanas to limited-edition Behikes specially made for Cohiba’s 40th anniversary in 2005, in a bespoke humidor. Cigar enthusiasts can enjoy sampling the perfect cigar in a convivial atmosphere.
The Cigar Room at the May Fair Hotel offers a luxurious intimate setting for devotees and experimenters alike. Undisputable stars of the cigar world include hand-rolled Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, Trinidad, Bolivar, Hoyo de Monterrey and Santa Damiana. The aura is enhanced by an impressive selection of signature martinis, as well as cognacs, whiskies, rum and tequila from the rare and fine collection.
The Garden Room at The Lanesborough Hotel is renowned as being the first and most luxurious cigar lounge in Knightsbridge and a keen destination for cigar connoisseurs from around the world. Guests can choose from the sizable collection of Cuban and pre-Castro cigars in the celebrated walk-in humidor and relax with a drink from an extensive selection comprising bottles dating as far back as 1770.
