By Patrick LowmanLAST orders are to be called on smoking at an historic hotel after regulars asked for a ban to be introduced.From New Year's Day, lighting up a cigarette, cigar or pipe at the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds will be forbidden.

By Patrick Lowman

LAST orders are to be called on smoking at an historic hotel after regulars asked for a ban to be introduced.

From New Year's Day, lighting up a cigarette, cigar or pipe at the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds will be forbidden.

Smoking has already been banned from the hotel's bedrooms and restaurant area, but it will now be extended to include the bar area.

Co-publicans, John Barry and Roy Whitworth, agreed to stub-out smoking at the request of their regulars and were confident it would not drive customers away.

Mr Barry, who has run the 15th Century establishment since 1987, said: “The decision to ban smoking is really a commercial decision.

“Basically, customers have asked us to do this and we have obliged. We are now looking forward to a healthier New Year.

“We don't see why people who want to drink Suffolk beer and enjoy pub food should have to put up with smoky areas any more.”

He added: “We have publicised our plans and although one or two customers are not happy, the overall response has been very positive.

“The majority of people we have spoken to want to see smoking banned from here. I don't know of any other pub in the area that has banned smoking and we are hoping to give non-smokers an option.”

Ironically, Mr Barry is still a keen smoker of cigars and Mr Whitworth was a heavy smoker until he kicked the habit a couple of years ago.

Mr Barry said he wanted to make it clear he was not an anti-smoking campaigner.

“I do not believe in a blanket ban on smoking. The great thing about the English pub is diversity and there should be a range of establishment which offer people a choice,” he added.

“I smoke cigars, but I am only too happy to go outside so I don't have to smoke around those who find it uncomfortable.”

The announcement of the smoking ban comes after it was revealed Ipswich could become the first tows in East Anglia to ban smoking in public places.

Ipswich Primary Care Trust wants officials in the town to consider introducing smoke-free zones in pubs, clubs and restaurants to help prevent the dangers of passive smoking.

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk