Smoking bans may spread after Pizza Hut move

No-smoking pubs and restaurants are set to become more common in the UK in the wake of yesterday's announcement by Pizza Hut that it is banning smoking in all its sit-down restaurants.

Chain operators predict the trend will accelerate as pressure from customers and landlords grows.

Pub operator Laurel has been experimenting with no-smoking pubs, while Pizza Hut owner Whitbread has also been testing smoke-free policies in some of its Brewers Fayre pub-restaurants.

Three Brewers Fayre outlets have been testing the concept for the past two years - the Racecourse in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, the Aire & Calder in Goole, East Yorkshire, and the Flagstaff Island in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire.

"Feedback from our customers has been good and we would certainly consider extending this policy to other sites, but only in a time period that our customers would be happy with," said a Whitbread spokeswoman.

Laurel has been testing a no-smoking policy at its Ring O'Bells pub in West Kirby on the Wirral since June and has seen takings more than double.

Chief executive Ian Payne was quoted this week as saying "the time was right" for non-smoking pubs.

A Laurel spokeswoman stressed that the Ring O'Bells trial came about because the landlord approached the company with the suggestion.

Laurel was now planning to encourage other landlords to come forward, but the initiative had to come from the bottom up, rather than be dictated from the top, she added.

"If it is appropriate, and they feel they can make it work with their business, then we will take a look to see if we can make it work on a non-smoking basis," said the spokeswoman.

by Nic Paton