WHEN the Fighting Cocks pub was refurbished last July, the licensees, Ian and Susan Kemble, thought it was time for change.

"We had already stopped smoking at the bar but, when we finished the refurbishment in July, we decided to make the whole restaurant area smoke-free," says Mrs Kemble, who has run the local for four years.

What made their minds up was the number of people asking for no smoking tables in the restaurant.

With the ban coming in this July, they made the decision to go smoke-free a few months in advance.

So when the pub reopened on January 3 after a Christmas break, customers were greeted with signs telling them the entire premises was smoke-free.

The couple were a little nervous about the move but say the gamble appears to have paid off.

She said: "Our food trade has definitely increased, although I would say the number of people just coming in for a drink has decreased slightly. At the moment, the drinkers can go elsewhere, but that will all change soon.

"I think the ban is being blown up out of all proportions. I don't think there is really going to be a problem."

The Fighting Cocks is known as a destination for dining, so Mrs Kemble believes they will be sheltered from the main impact of the smoking ban.

A row of fixed ash trays has been installed on a wall outside the pub and customers use them without complaint.