Pub and restaurant operator Massive Pub Company will stub out smoking across its estate by the end of April.

The 50-strong owner of L’Auberge restaurant chain, Tup pubs and Thomas & Carter bars, said it had decided to make the change ahead of England’s official July ban because “people were now ready to embrace smoke-free”.

Massive’s managing director Peter Linacre said where the company had closed pubs for refurbishment and reopened them as non-smoking venues customers had been delighted with the change.

“Where we have introduced bans it’s created a much better atmosphere inside,” he said. “We’ve also seen staff at non-smoking pubs unwilling to transfer to our venues where smoking is still allowed.”

The company’s L’Auberge restaurants have been smoke-free for the past three years.

Last week, Shire hotels became the first hotel group in England to introduce a complete ban across its estate, including bedrooms.

Massive Pub Company website  >>

Shire Hotels goes smoke-free across group >>

Market snapshot: Gastropubs >>

For more on the smoking ban go here >>

Smokefree England >>

Smoking ban Wales >>

By Chris Druce

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