THE new owners of a Kirkby-in-Furness watering hole have taken a brave approach to smoking by completely banning it from the pub.

Barry Postlethwaite, 47, and Tony Barton, 37, bought The Ship Inn at auction in December last year.

The 17th century pub was closed by Hartley's Brewery, but following a £70,000 refurbishment reopened on Good Friday.

Both men are keen runners and said they decided to ban smoking from the pub because they wanted to create a "pleasant environment."

"I have never smoked and I don't like the smell of fags. It is not that we have got a problem with people that smoke, we just don't want people smoking in the pub. It is a gamble really but it seems to be working well. I'd say 99 per cent of people are happy about it.

"We are trying also trying to create a family pub where people can come in the afternoons, even if it just to get out of the house," said Mr Postlewaite.

A public house in Millom, The Duddon Pilot, took the same approach to smoking a number of years ago. The owners built a shed out the back for smokers to use.

"People have asked about where they can go when it is raining and we have considered building a shed, but we will have to wait and see," said Mr Postlethwaite.

Mr Barton said people were welcome to go in the beer garden or stand outside the front door of the pub to have a cigarette.

"We have even had people come to the pub and say they have only come because it is no smoking. I asked a lot of my friends before we decided to ban smoking from the pub and they didn't find it to be an issue," he said.

Reopening the pub has created three part-time jobs for people in the village and the new owners have further plans.

"We would like to open upstairs as a small function room but work needs doing to it first. We are also considering doing food but we are waiting to see what our customers want first." said Mr Postlethwaite.

May 6, 2003 12:00