Toby bans smoking

Toby Restaurants is to impose a ban on smoking across its estate of more than 130 restaurants from next January, following a two-month trial at 13 sites.

Bass, parent company of Toby Restaurants, claims the trial was popular with customers. Over the period, 1,300 feedback cards were completed - a response rate of 10% - of which 87% were supportive.

David Hunt, brand manager for Toby Restaurants, told Caterer its old policy of providing a non-smoking section had caused various problems. "When the two areas are contained in a single room we always get complaints about smoke drifting," he said.

"Also, in different trading sessions the demand can change. For example, on Sundays almost 90% of customers want to be in the non-smoking section," he explained.

Although a total smoking ban has proved bad for business in restaurants in the USA, Mr Hunt was optimistic. He had expected to see a decrease in people at the trial sites but in fact there was a slight increase.

"Even smokers supported the move, because we made sure they could still smoke in pre-food areas like the bar. Many smokers prefer this," said Mr Hunt.

The British Hospitality Association, which favours measures that provide for the needs of both smokers and non-smokers, said Bass's decision was a commercial matter and down to the company.

Chris Tame, director of smokers' lobby group Forest, said he was disappointed: "It does not seem a sensible business decision to exclude a third of the adult population, especially a group that tends to eat out more than the rest."