A PUB has become the first in its town to impose a total ban on smoking, nearly a year earlier than it needed to.
The Piper, in Windmill Avenue, Kettering, started the ban yesterday, after a partial three-year ban proved so successful that a boom in business followed. The ban even helped some customers kick the habit.
The Government plans to impose a total ban on smoking in pubs next summer. A public consultation into the matter has just finished and health minister Caroline Flint has written to licensees' associations to confirm they will have at least eight months to prepare for the changes.
However, landlord Garth Coward decided that after redecorating the pub this month it was an ideal opportunity to ban cigarettes totally.
He said: "Since our lounge became non-smoking almost three years ago we have seen a massive increase in trade and had very few complaints.
"It seemed the natural thing to do to extend it to the entire building.
"Last time four regulars even gave up smoking as a result, so it definitely had a positive effect.
"Most of my regulars say they don't smoke in their own home and don't mind standing outside for a few minutes.
"We are very proud to be the first pub to ban smoking."
Regular Geoffrey Gould, of Burton Latimer, said it was something the Government should have enforced years ago. He said: "I gave up smoking 25 years ago. This ban should have come in years ago. Smoking does not do anyone any good, so I am really pleased the pub has taken the step so early."
John Harris, of Christie Way, Kettering, said the ban was wrong and could lead to thousands of pubs going out of business.
He said: "I can't understand why they did it earlier than they needed to. I agree that it is not acceptable when people are eating, but a pub is a place where you should be able to have a drink and a cigarette. I think it will be the death of a lot of pubs.
"The Government is banning everything."