Drink Talking: Kevin O'Connor

Our decision not to sell food is finally set to pay dividends says Kevin O'Connor of the Swan Inn, Newton Abbot.

We are a small pub whose core customers are from both sexes, session drinkers and predominately smokers with an age range of 18 to 86.

None of our customers are on the dole, they work in a wide range of professions and we do not live in a poor area.

They work and play hard but if we had to enforce a smoking ban on them it would take away some of the fun for them - and us - and it would destroy 25 years of building a business.

Our pub would have New Labour and its health puritans reaching for the smelling salts because of the amount we smoke, drink and enjoy ourselves!

Mind, that's not to say we work in a fog. Last year we installed an air-change system that brings clean air into the bar.

Our choice, made many years ago, not to sell food looks like it is paying dividends.

We are all very happy that, thus far, it would appear that in the main we will be left alone - and may be joined by many other smokers when they are driven out of their locals.

Out of 28 licensed premises in our area, we are one of only five freehouses and about the only one that does not do food. Our cost base is already set up for not doing so, and a difficult adjustment awaits any food pub trying to do the same.

From a selfish point of view the government's announcement has been a bit of a result for us and for the staff we thought we would have to let go.