Wetherspoons to go non-smoking

January 25, 2005: Wetherspoons has made a new year's resolution to give up smoking. The weed will be banned in 60 of its pubs by May this year and the remainder of its 650-strong estate by May 2006.

Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin said: “An increasing percentage of the population is giving up smoking and a significant number of people are staying away from pubs and restaurants because they are too smoky.

“Wetherspoon pioneered non-smoking areas, but we now feel that it’s the right time to go one step further. The government’s approach to the issue of a smoking ban does not make sense, since pubs can get around it by giving up food sales.

“We believe that the Wetherspoon approach of a complete ban after a period of notice is the right one.”