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Article: Chain to ban smoking in London pubs.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- January 24, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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.PUB chain Wetherspoons is to ban smoking in all its London outlets by May. It will ban smoking nationwide by 2006 amid fears that drinkers are staying away from pubs because they are too smoky, it was announced today.
The company, which owns 650 pubs, said that 60 of those, including all its London venues, will become smoke-free before the summer.
The firm said it wanted to end smoking in its bars and lounges two years ahead of proposed government legislation being debated.
Chairman Tim Martin attacked the proposals, claiming some pubs will still allow smoking if they do not sell food. He said: "An increasing percentage of the population are ...