Smoking is banned inside 1st Base, as it is in every enclosed public venue in England. Whether you can smoke outside is a house rule the venue sets, so confirm it with the team before your group arrives in 2026.
- Smoking inside 1st Base in Southampton is illegal under English law, no exceptions.
- Outdoor smoking at 1st Base is the venue's call, not the law's. Ask before you book.
- Vaping is not covered by the 2007 smokefree law, so the venue decides that too.
- Check the outdoor smoking policy in 2026 before a stag, hen or corporate booking.
Can you smoke outside at 1st Base?
The legal part is settled. England's smokefree law, in force since 1 July 2007, bans smoking in enclosed and substantially enclosed public places. 1st Base is an indoor activity bar and batting cage in Southampton city centre, so no smoking inside, ever.
Outdoors is different. The law does not ban smoking in open air, so any outdoor rule comes from the venue itself. The details of that rule are not published in the information available here, and a guess would send someone outside with a cigarette into an awkward conversation with staff.
The safe move: ask the 1st Base team directly before your visit. It takes one message, and it settles the question for your whole group.
Why this matters for group bookings
A 1st Base night is rarely two people. Stag and hen dos, birthdays, corporate events and family outings mean mixed groups, often from ages 8 to 80. Smokers in the group want to know where they can step out. Non-smokers want to know the batting cage and games areas stay clear.
Settling it in advance keeps the booking organiser out of the middle. It also stops the one or two smokers from missing a shuffleboard final because they spent twenty minutes hunting for a spot.
If you are planning around a group, the guide to how to book a batting cage session in Southampton covers the booking side.
Smoking, vaping and the law: what applies where
- Cigarettes, cigars and pipes inside: banned by law in England since 2007. The venue has no discretion here.
- Smoking outside: legal in open air, but the venue sets its own rules on where, if at all, on its premises.
- Vaping inside: not covered by the 2007 law. Venues decide for themselves, and most set their own policy.
- Public pavements near the venue: the law does not ban smoking on a public street, but the venue can still ask guests to move away from its entrance.
What to ask 1st Base before you book
Send these four questions when you enquire. Answers from the team beat anything you read second-hand.
- Is there a designated spot for smoking outside, and where is it?
- Can guests re-enter freely after stepping out, or is there a check-in process for busy sessions?
- What is the policy on vaping and e-cigarettes?
- If our booking is a private event, do the rules change?
Get the answers in writing in your booking confirmation or message thread. For a corporate booking, forward them to the group so nobody has to ask on the night.
Why the outdoor rule varies from venue to venue
No two venues have the same answer, and several factors drive it:
- Where the entrance sits. A door onto a busy city-centre street limits where people can stand.
- Neighbours and licensing conditions. Venues often have conditions on noise and crowding outside.
- Re-entry and safety. Guests moving in and out during a live batting session creates a flow problem.
- Age mix. A venue welcoming families wants to keep smoke away from entrances.
- Venue policy. Some venues are stricter than the law requires, and that is their right.
Can you take a break during a batting cage session?
Batting cage sessions run on a booked slot, so time spent outside is time not swinging. If a smoker in your group steps out, the rest of the team can keep playing shuffleboard, ping-pong or foosball. Agree the rotation before the session starts. For slot lengths, see how long a batting cage session lasts at 1st Base.
Can you drink alcohol while you play?
Drinking and smoking questions come as a pair for most groups. 1st Base is an activity bar, and the full answer on drinks is in can you drink alcohol at the batting cages. Read it alongside this page if your group is planning a social night.
Are under-18s affected by the smoking rules?
The smokefree law applies to everyone inside. For a group with younger guests, a venue that asks smokers to keep their distance from the entrance is easier to live with. Age rules for 1st Base are covered in can under-18s go to 1st Base.
Etiquette for smokers in a mixed group
Whatever the venue's answer, a few habits keep a night smooth:
- Step away from the entrance, not in front of it.
- Put out your cigarette fully before coming back in.
- Tell your group when you are going, so a missed turn does not stall the game.
- Respect staff directions on where to stand. They have the final say.
The wider rules of the room are in the activity bar etiquette guide.
Planning a group night in Southampton?
Start with 1st Base and ask about outdoor rules when you enquire.
FAQ
Can you smoke inside 1st Base?
No. English law has banned smoking in enclosed public places since 1 July 2007, so smoking inside 1st Base is not allowed.
Can you smoke outside at 1st Base?
Outdoor smoking is a venue rule, not a legal ban. Ask the 1st Base team before you book so your group knows where the rule stands in 2026.
Can you vape at 1st Base?
Vaping is not covered by the 2007 smokefree law, so the venue decides. Confirm the policy with the team before your visit.
Is smoking on the pavement outside a venue legal?
Yes, smoking on a public street is not banned by the smokefree law. Venues can still ask guests to move away from their entrance.
Does the smoking policy change for private events?
Ask when you enquire. The law is the same for every booking, but any venue house rule on outdoor areas is worth confirming for your specific event.
Should I tell my group the smoking rules before the night?
Yes. Send the answer from the venue to the group chat so smokers and non-smokers both know the plan before they arrive.
One last thing
The fastest way to avoid a smoking-rule surprise is to put the question in your first booking message, not on the night. Venues answer it in one line, and you can pass that line to the whole group. If parking and arrival are also on your list, check parking near 1st Base in Southampton in the same sitting.
