Smoking ban hits pub trade

There are winners and losers with would-be diners pleased to find smoke-free restaurants.

But some regular drinkers - the mainstay of country locals - opt to smoke and drink at home instead of being forced out of a bar on a cold and wet night.

At the popular Star in Waldron, Con Lefort, father of landlord Paul and former boss of The Crown, Heathfield, told the Express: 'I'm really proud of the regular smokers who still choose to come to our pub.

'If it was me and I was sitting at home on a freezing night and wanted a cigarette I'd be tempted to stay where I was.

'But people still come to see their friends and pop outside for a quick puff.

'Paul is anti-smoking and I haven't smoked for many years but I feel for our customers.

'It's all right through the summer but winter is a different matter, especially for people who can't give up smoking.