LARGE crowds gathering outside for a smoke could cause difficulties for Les Folies d’Amour nightclub. General manager Tony Le Marchant said that he was expecting at least 100 people out there on Saturday night.

‘I don’t think it’s going to cause as many problems as we anticipated, but I am concerned about the amount of people standing outside the club on Saturday night. On Monday, we had between 30 and 40 people out there, but I’m expecting there will be as many as 100 at the weekend,’ he said.

Mr Le Marchant added that he supported the smoking ban and the club had for some time been planning ways to cope with the new law.

‘People will not be allowed to take their drinks outside and must finish them before they exit the club – it’s just a matter of people learning what we want them to do.

‘Once they get out there, they will have to join the back of the queue to get back in – but will not be charged to return inside.

‘I suspect that the odd person will try to have a sneaky fag in the toilets.’

But a night out could get costly for clubbers who have to drink up when they want to go outside for a cigarette.

‘What we are finding is that people are drinking more. A drink that usually takes 30 minutes is now taking some people only 10, so they can nip outside for a smoke. We have had no complaints so far, though – if it saves just one life, it’s worth it.’