M&B in new approach to Government on smoking

Pub giant Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) intends to lobby the Government to change its plans for an all-out smoking ban in outlets serving food.

M&B, owner of about 2,000 pubs, including the All Bar One and Harvester chains, instead wants separate smoking and non-smoking rooms and wants to persuade the Government to follow that route.

It said: "We welcome the Government's proposal for a staged approach with four years to prepare and a wide consultation process."

But the company added that separating food and smoking would force more pubs than the Government "currently anticipates" to remove food and permit smoking throughout, other than at the bar.

M&B last week released annual results for the year to 25 September, showing sales up by 3.7% to £1.56b. Profit before tax and exceptional items fell by 7.5% to £184m, but operating profit was up by 3.6% to £285m.

The group said the high-street pub market, particularly the late-night bar sector, remained tough.

Food now represents a bigger slice of turnover, accounting for nearly 30% of sales, against just 11% a decade ago.