One step ahead

Any pub thinking of taking the plunge and going smoke-free before the ban kicks in can take heart from the story that has unfolded at the Bull in North London.

With the introduction of the legislation less than six months away, licensees may be getting anxious about how to prepare.

But after bringing in a ban in June last year, the Bull, a two-storey gastro-style pub nestling in the leafy confines of Highgate, hasn't looked back.

In fact it has coped extremely well. Admittedly, the pub benefits from having an outdoor terrace at its front, an ideal area for smokers, but it has still been a bold step to become the first pub in Highgate to outlaw smoking.

Patio heaters and umbrellas rooted in the middle of tables add to the comfort that smokers can enjoy.

But for manager Marcelo Soares, sending his regular smokers outside wasn't an easy decision. He had only been in charge at the Bull for a month before taking the step.

"I was worried that I would be the most unpopular pub manager in Highgate, but it hasn't been like that at all," he explains.

"I came to the decision after I started because there was a policy that if all tables were taken by diners then we wouldn't allow people to smoke."

Marcelo explains that this situation was causing confusion among his customers. "People would come for a drink in the afternoon and be allowed to smoke and then come in for a meal on a Saturday evening and we'd stop them from lighting up," he says.

"So instead of making it all smoking I decided to go the other way and make the whole pub smoke-free."

Marcelo has been buoyed by the reaction. "It has worked out absolutely perfectly," he says.

"To my surprise we've not had a single complaint. We were expecting a few, but nothing. I was worried about the regulars - it was just a simple 'OK, I will go outside'."

The reaction has been primarily positive. "We do get people saying that it's very nice to be in a smoke-free atmosphere and that it's lighter. And if they are eating, then people say the food smells better," says Marcelo.

He attributes the positive reaction to the fact that smokers are now fairly used to going outside for a puff.

Fortunately for the owner - the Meredith Group, which also has Islington's the House and new venture the Running Footman in Mayfair - there were few changes needed to make the Bull smoke-free.

However, Marcelo has noticed that the interior of the pub has benefited from not being full of a constant fug of smoke.

"There is certainly less general wear and tear to the furniture," says Marcelo. He also notes that it reduces the work-load for his staff.

He explains: "It's easier to manage because staff are not having to change ashtrays and do not have to keep an eye on when they get full. It's one less thing for them to worry about."

So once your property is up to scratch to cope with the smoking ban, it may make sense to get your customers to stub out their fags early.

As much as anything, it will, for a time, distinguish you from your local competitors - and may even help boost trade.