North Yorkshire pub group Market Town Taverns has stubbed out smoking at all its sites.

The nine-strong pub group converted its last smoking pub, the Tithe Bar & Brasserie in Northallerton, last weekend (1 January).

Managing director Ian Fozard said the decision was a long-term commercial one. The group had had a warm response to conversions and new openings of no-smoking pubs, he added.

"Footfall at no-smoking pubs has remained largely the same as we've attracted new customers. Average spend is down slightly but I see this as nothing more than a short-term blip," he said.

Fozard argued that that because three out of every four adults in the UK were non-smokers, there was a clear market opportunity for those bold enough to take it.

However, he attacked the Government's current proposals for smoking in England, which will see it continue in non-food pubs.

"The current proposals are a mess. If smoking truly is a public health issue, it makes no sense to condemn working-class pubs just to save the Labour vote," Fozard said.

Market Town Taverns will open a 10th pub in North Yorkshire in February.

By Chris Druce

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