It's not only the smoking ban that is encouraging folks to stay at home & drink there.

Surely, cheap drink that is easily obtained at any local Supermarket, must also be to blame.

e.g.:
"The best premium lager deal right now has to be Stella at Morrisons:

2 x 18 packs (440ml) Stella for £16. Equivalent to 44p a can, or 57p a pint."

Just for the record, this is my local Session Pub here in Ireland.
At the moment it is thriving, but when the present owners retire, I dread to think what knew owners might do with this wonderful olde worlde establishment!

Cheers
Dick