The Pipe Shop

Strangling the golden goose?

Once again we have weathered another Budget. Actually, it wasn’t quite so bad this time. But with the government ‘Duty Escalator’ set at 2% above inflation, it still means a 50p increase on hand rolling tobacco, 30p on an average packet of cigarettes and 30p on pipe tobacco. It also means a substantial increase in revenue for organised criminal gangs, smugglers and counterfeiters, as hard pressed UK smokers seek cheaper alternatives to high street retailers.

The Government own figures point to this trend, with national sales of cigarettes down by nearly 7%, cigars down by a similar amount and pipe tobacco down by a hefty 15%. As expected, hand rolling tobacco consumption rose 15.9%, reflecting the trend away from cigarettes.

At this rate the governments £14 billion annual income from smokers is looking increasingly unsustainable.

One thing I missed in the budget is a new duty on all herbal tobacco due January 1st 2014. This will mean product like Greengo, which contains hazel leaf, papaya, mint and eucalyptus, will be taxed in the same way as tobacco, even though they do not contain nicotine.

If we are going to tax such innocuous plants, will we see a duty on potato’s, tomato’s and aubergines that do contain nicotine?

The rise and rise of the e-cigarette

Sales of e-cigarettes have been rising steadily for the past 18 months as cigarette smokers seek an alternative to tobacco that can be smoked indoors. With this is mind we adding to our range with the Ego Ce6 starter kits pictured above.

The kit costs £29.95 for 650ma battery version and £34.95 for the longer lasting 1100ma. Comes complete with two e-cigarettes, a USB charger, Wall charger and e-liquid dispenser. The high quality 10ml E-Juice are £3.50 each or 3 for £10.

Merry Christmas!

We wish everyone a peaceful holiday with lots of love and laughter.

Our opening hours over Christmas are: Christmas Eve open 9 to 5 ish, 25th-27th closed, Friday 28th and Saturday 29th open. New Years Eve open 9 to 5, New Years Day closed. Wednesday 2nd January normal opening hours (ie 5 mins late as usual!) 

Do you stock Cuban cigars?

We are quite often asked this question, especially near Christmas. Our current range is (take a deep breath) Cohiba Siglo I, II, III and VI, Cohiba Robusto, Cohiba BHK52, Montecristo No. 2, 3, 4, 5, Montecristo Petit Tubos, Edmundo and Montecristo OPEN Master, Romeo y Julieta Churchills, Short Churchill, Wide Churchill, and No. 2, 3 and Petit Julietas, Trindad Reyes, Partagas Serie P No.2, Partagas Serie D No.4, Punch Petit Coronations and Punch Punch, Bolivar Royal Coronas, Bolivar No.1 and 2, Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2, Jose L. Piedra Cazadores and Petit Cazadores, Quintero, Guantanamera Cristales, Compay and Minutos.

All our cigars are available singly, prices starting at £3.80, going all the way up to £32.95 for Cohiba Siglo VI.

Any Cuban cigars that we do not have in stock we can usually order in within 24-48 hours.

More Auld Kendal tobacco

We are now stocking Auld Kendal Gold ‘coffee caramel’ hand rolling tobacco. Perfect with that early morning cuppa….