For those choosing to drop in for aa smoke, there is a backgammon board to entertain and certainly on Saturdays and after lunch during the week there is likely to be a few other like-minded cigar-lovers. If accessories are of interest you could hardly be in a more suitable or agreeable environment to browse, from humidors to cutters, lighters to pouches. Customers are, according to Mr Frentzel, split equally between regular UK residents and passing customers, many of whom tend to have a variety of sizes, if not brands. 'Certainly for our more established smoker there is a move away from the tried and tested Montecristos', according to David Frentzel.' They seem to want variety, albeit of the very best quality'.

As with any other cigar retailer, popular brands remain the Monte No.2 and Hoyo Epicure No. 2, the latter being David's own favourite brand. 'To be honest I enjoy either the Epicure No. 1 or No. 2 and, for a change, a Hoyo Churchill, which is smoking particularly well at the moment'.

Is it always Cuban? 'For me yes, but there is a significant interest in both Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic'. Both seem to be enjoying increasing popularity as tobacco, rollers and overall consistency climb ever upwards.  For many it seems there is nothing to beat Cuban, although the gap is closing all the time.