That link is to an article by Ewan Turney. I googled Ewan Turney UK reporter. He writes opinion. He also writes for a web site called thesmokersclubinc.com. There is no proof, even in his article, that the smoking ban is closing the pubs. Change in drinking habits, increase costs in other ways, etc. are a pressure on pub owners, stated even in the article written by Turney. He tries to spin it as a result of the ban, but there is no proof.