Customers in Kendal's JD Wetherspoon pub will be able to enjoy a smoke-free atmosphere from next year as the company looks to ban customers from lighting up in all its 650 chains.
The move will mean all such pubs will be smoke-free two years ahead of the government's proposed ban on smoking in pubs set for 2008.
Mr Gershon said the company is confident the ban will not put off drinkers because unless they give up the food sales they would have to ban smoking anyhow.
Smoking will be banned in all JD Wetherspoon pubs by May 2006 and a selection of 60 chains will ban smoking from May 4 this year- although none of these are in Cumbria.
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