The licensed trade's opportunity to fight smoking restrictions has gone, according to the boss of one of the UK's fastest growing high-street pub groups.

Julian Sargeson, chief executive of the Laurel Pub Company, said the industry had had plenty of time over the last four to seven years to self-regulate, but the pace of change had been too slow. "It's little surprise the Government stepped in. We had plenty of time to react but didn't use it," he said.

But the pub boss also slammed the Government's current proposals that will see smoking continuing in pubs that don't serve hot food, describing them as farcical.

"The Government has said the main reason for doing this is to improve public health. So to create a group of second-class citizens because they happen to work somewhere that doesn't serve food is a poor stance to take," said Sargeson, who thinks a complete ban is the only logical step.

He dismissed the idea of smoking rooms as favoured by Mitchells & Butlers, arguing that most high-street operators had spent the last 10 years making pubs into a single space, so division would be unworkable.

Sargeson also admitted the industry had been poor in defending itself against attacks in the national papers about 24-hour drinking.

Advocating the licensing reform that comes into effect in England and Wales in November, he said: "The current pressure to get beer down your neck does contribute to antisocial behaviour. Any change that makes people more relaxed about the terminal hour has to be a good thing."

By Chris Druce