For decades, the stereotypical British cigar smoker was a “fat cat” banker — pinstriped suit, champagne lifestyle, and a Montecristo permanently in hand. It was an image shaped by the 1980s boom years, when City brokers embraced cigars as a status symbol, cementing their association with wealth, indulgence, and a certain kind of bravado.
Yet this narrow image no longer reflects reality. Cigar smoking in the UK is changing — and in some surprising ways.
A Decline, Then a Revival
The Financial Times once reported that cigar smokers were a “dying breed” in Britain, with numbers falling sharply over two decades to around 300,000 by the mid-2000s. Factors like the public smoking ban, steep excise taxes, and tighter display laws all contributed to the decline. Cigars seemed destined to remain a relic of a bygone era.
But that’s not the whole story. Consumption data often ignores cycles of popularity. In the mid-1990s, the cigar industry was at a 30-year high, fuelled by the craze for American cigar bars that spread globally. Today, a similar revival is underway — this time driven not by pinstripe bankers, but by younger professionals, cultural enthusiasts, and lifestyle seekers.
The Rise of Cigar Terraces
Evidence of revival is hard to ignore. Many of London’s most prestigious hotels now boast dedicated cigar terraces, turning alfresco smoking into a luxury attraction. From the Bulgari and Corinthia to No. Ten Manchester Street, cigar lounges have become essential features of top addresses. In Marylebone, Ten Manchester Street even opened an indoor concession in 2011, allowing sampling in style.
Justin Clayton, who manages one such specialist lounge, argues the future looks brighter than statistics suggest:
“We’re now seeing many cigarette smokers switching over and enjoying the occasional cigar. They consider it a weekend treat. Your stereotypical cigar smoker makes up only a handful of our clientele — the rest are diverse, younger, and harder to categorise.”
Who Smokes Cigars in the UK Today?
The new UK cigar smoker isn’t a “fat cat” but often an everyday professional. Key demographics are men aged 30–45 — family men who may no longer be clubbing until dawn, but instead enjoy pairing a fine cigar with a single malt at the end of the week.
Younger still are those in their twenties, who see cigars less as a sign of wealth and more as a hobby and cultural pursuit. Like whisky collecting or craft beer, cigars are valued for their craftsmanship, ritual, and flavour journey.
- Daniel Ward, a 25-year-old sales analyst from Edinburgh, describes cigars as pure enjoyment:“I started smoking cigars because I tried one and rather liked it. Then I discovered forums and began learning about their cultural history. For me, they’re a luxury hobby.”
- Robb Montgomery, a 20-year-old student from Belfast, emphasises authenticity:“The attraction is the quality of the tobacco — no chemically preserved cigarette filler, but leaves grown and cured for flavour. The time cigars demand is part of their appeal.”
From Chapists to Connoisseurs
This revival mirrors the resurgence of pipe smoking among so-called “chapists” in the early 2000s — young men who embraced tweed, moustaches, and Edwardian manners. What started as an affectation often deepened into genuine connoisseurship. The same phenomenon seems to be happening with cigars: an initial curiosity develops into a passion for craftsmanship, terroir, and ritual.
More Than Smoke: A Cultural Shift
Cigars in the UK are no longer just for the boardroom or the golf course. They’ve become a marker of slow living, mindful indulgence, and appreciation of heritage. For some, they’re about carving out time for reflection; for others, they’re about community, shared experiences, and a growing cigar culture that thrives in lounges, festivals, and online forums.
While cigars remain a luxury purchase, the motivations of the modern UK cigar smoker are far removed from the excess of the 1980s. Today, it’s less about flaunting wealth and more about savouring experience.
From London terraces to Edinburgh flats, the modern UK cigar smoker is a diverse and evolving group. Yes, the old stereotypes linger — but the reality is richer: younger enthusiasts, lifestyle seekers, and hobbyists who see cigars as a way to connect with history, craftsmanship, and a sense of occasion.
The UK’s cigar culture may be smaller than in Cuba or the US, but it’s vibrant, resilient, and increasingly youthful. Far from being a dying breed, cigar smokers are reinventing what it means to enjoy a Havana in the 21st century.