Sandwich Technician
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021 One million UK adults who have never smoked before are now vaping, new stats reveal
Emily Sergeant
More than a million UK adults who claim to have never smoked cigarettes are now vaping.
According to alarming new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), relating to people aged 16 and over, around 2.8 million men (11.3%) and 2.1 million women (8.2%) are thought to be smokers in the UK… but more than a million people, who have never smoked before, have now made the decision to start vaping instead.
People in the 25 to 34 age group were found to be the most likely to vape, according to the data, overtaking those aged 16 to 24, as it was the only age group to see a rise in e-cigarette usage.
Daily or occasional vaping is still higher than the proportion of people smoking cigarettes too, the ONS revealed, at 5.4 million, or 9.9%, versus 4.8 million (8.7%).
“Fewer than one in 10 adults now smoke,” commented David Mais, from the ONS.
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“This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking. [But] at the same time, e-cigarette use remains more common than smoking and has followed an overall upward trend since 2020.
“E-cigarette users are also getting older, with those aged 25 to 34 now overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds as the age group most likely to use them.
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“This may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both.”
Overall, the prevalence of smoking dropped in all four UK nations between 2024 and 2025.
Featured Image – Elsa Olofsson (via Unsplash)
Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa – the Grade I-listed spa with a surprising royal history
Aimee Woodcock
There’s something rather special about arriving at Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa. Hidden away in the Cheshire countryside, the Grade I-listed 17th-century Jacobean mansion makes quite the first impression.
The grand architecture of the hotel building and the history of the estate spill out into the grounds, including a beautiful chapel tucked away near the main building, where stunning stained glass adds another impressive detail to an already spectacular setting.
But perhaps the biggest surprise comes when checking into one of the hotel’s rooms, if you end up (as we did) in the room that once played host to King George V and Queen Mary during their royal visit in 1913 – meaning guests can quite literally spend the night where royalty once slept.
That’s not the main reason we’re here though – Crewe Hall also has its own spa, offering the perfect excuse to slow down for a few hours and make the most of the facilities.
Kick off with a 50-minute ‘Relaxing Face and Back’ treatment, using Elemis products, before heading into the jacuzzi whirlpool, steam room and sauna.
It’s the sort of addition that turns an overnight stay into a proper treat.
Dinner at The Brasserie brings a menu packed with dishes that feel just as indulgent as the surroundings, with pan-fried scallops served with confit red pepper and Vietnamese soft-shell crab among the starters.
For mains, sirloin steak and lamb rump arrive cooked to perfection, with chocolate brownie and white chocolate crème brûlée to finish off.
After dinner, the grand surroundings give way to a much more peaceful side of Crewe Hall, with four-poster beds and views across the gardens making for a particularly relaxing end to the evening, and start to the next day.
Morning brings another highlight in the form of breakfast, with a generous spread offering everything from a full English and hot breakfast favourites to breads, pastries, cereals and more.
It’s this combination that makes Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa stand out.
There’s the history and grandeur of the Jacobean mansion, the chance to stay in a room with a royal connection, a spa designed for switching off and a restaurant that delivers when it comes to dinner, all wrapped up in the peaceful surroundings of the Cheshire countryside.
And throughout it all, the team, including Kerry, Tony and the wider Crewe Hall staff, add to what feels like a genuinely memorable stay.
For anyone looking for a countryside escape that offers a little more than simply somewhere to spend the night, Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa might be the one for you.
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Featured image: The Manc Group
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