A trade group has urged the government to scrap its review of the smoking ban for fear that it could be extended.
A review of the ban, which came into affect in July 2007, is due this autumn. However, Bill Sharp, chairman of the Guild of Master Victuallers (GMV), has warned that if it is extended to ban smoking outside pubs and in beer gardens it could severely damage the industry.
"This would be utterly devastating, especially for smaller more traditional pubs and would accelerate their decline," said Sharp.
He added: "The coalition has the opportunity to stop the review and it should take it - they have claimed to be focused on deregulation and on opening Britain for business. This is a great opportunity for them to walk their talk and relax the rules."
Figures from the GMV show that 4,148 pubs have closed since the smoking ban came into effect in 2007, which represents a decline of 7.6 per cent.
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By Tom Vaughan
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