The first club for smokers in Granada province, the ‘Fiorentina Smokers Club’, opened on Saturday and was apparently a complete success.
Around 100 people turned up, smokers and non-smokers, and apparently everyone had a good time in a nice, relaxed atmosphere. The smoke extractors installed in the room ensured that the air was virtually smoke-free.
The club was the brainchild of Jesús López Vega and his two brothers. They rented a building next to their restaurant, Pizzería Fiorentina in Macarena, with the intention that customers of the restaurant would not have to stand outside, possibly in the rain, to have a smoke.
It is a private, non-profit club and there are no staff on hand to sell food or drink, a legal requirement for such establishments. However, members can purchase food and drink from the restaurant and consume it in the club.
Only members of Fiorentina Smokers Club may enter and, once enrolled, they are provided with an electronic card. A sensor at the entrance to the club controls who is admitted.
The club will have several types of members. These are: Honorary members (no fee charged), Benefactor (fee charged only in exceptional circumstances) and Permanent (nominal fee of €5).
The club is 150 square metres and is divided into several different areas. There are bar stools, relaxing low-level seats and several plasma TV screens.
There are also plans for various gastronomic and wine tasting functions in collaboration with associations in the province.