Hard Rock Café owner Rank's profits hit by smoking ban

Mecca Bingo and Hard Rock Café owner Rank posted a 3% fall in profits today as the smoking ban in Scotland took its toll.

Rank said first half pre-tax profits came in below City expectations at £40.7m (€60.5m), compared with £41.9m (€62.3m) in the same six months of last year.

The company said trading was down at its 14 Mecca Bingo sites in Scotland because of the smoking ban, although profits were up at Hard Rock Café.

Rank also said it will close its head office in London and axe jobs in the gaming division and at Mecca Bingo to cut costs.