Market Town Taverns stubs out smoking

05 January 2006 by
Market Town Taverns stubs out smoking

North Yorkshire pub group Market Town Taverns has stubbed out smoking at all its sites.

The nine-strong pub group converted its last smoking pub, the Tithe Bar & Brasserie in Northallerton, last weekend (1 January).

Managing director Ian Fozard said the decision was a long-term commercial one. The group had had a warm response to conversions and new openings of no-smoking pubs, he added.

"Footfall at no-smoking pubs has remained largely the same as we've attracted new customers. Average spend is down slightly but I see this as nothing more than a short-term blip," he said.

Fozard argued that that because three out of every four adults in the UK were non-smokers, there was a clear market opportunity for those bold enough to take it.

However, he attacked the Government's current proposals for smoking in England, which will see it continue in non-food pubs.

"The current proposals are a mess. If smoking truly is a public health issue, it makes no sense to condemn working-class pubs just to save the Labour vote," Fozard said.

Market Town Taverns will open a 10th pub in North Yorkshire in February.

By Chris Druce

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