Massive Pub Company to stub out smoking by end of April

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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