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‘It’s where all the best socialising happens’: the joy of the smoking area
As the government mulls an outdoor smoking ban, clubbers are lamenting the possible loss of a valuable space where friendships are formed and bonds strengthened
The chats outside can have more depth.” Even as a non-smoker, she reckons she spends a significant part of her nights out here on the terrace, and she carries a lighter on a chain attached to her belt because she recognises its currency in social settings: a guaranteed icebreaker. ‘It’s a great environment for bonding with people.’ Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesOther interactions are more ephemeral but no less memorable: a deep and meaningful chat with someone you’ve just met before losing them as soon as you re-enter the club; impassioned gossip with a person whose name you never caught. Despite not remembering each other’s names, these interactions began to feel special, marking milestones in their life: their first dabbles with hedonism, freshers’ week, the opening of clubs after the pandemic.
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