Lauriston Farm, Edinburgh
Dan Sencier has managed Lauriston Farm Brewer's Fayre for the past 10 years and made the decision to go smoke-free back in October 2003 following a growing sense from Government and media that second-hand smoke is dangerous to health and that a growing number of people want to avoid exposure to it.
Staff and customers were given six months warning ahead of the ban being implemented, and Lauriston Farm Brewer's Fayre went smoke-free on March 1, 2004. Along with the Phoenix in Glasgow, it claims to be the first pub in Scotland to do so.
Mr Sencier's parents were both badly affected by smoking so Mr Sencier himself has strong feelings about cigarette smoke and second-hand smoke.
He says: "It came to the point where I was just sick of going home stinking of smoke and feeling the effects of having breathed in second-hand smoke all day and night."
The no-smoking policy is demonstrated with one large sign on the front door declaring 'No Smoking in Any Part of the Building' which customers cannot fail to notice as they enter. This, together with an already high level of awareness, has meant that all customers know of the ban and adhere to it.
Staff have accepted the ban on smoking, even those who smoke themselves, and customers are all very positive. The atmosphere is friendlier and more family orientated since the smoke-free policy was introduced and the pub has seen a lot of customers who were previously unable to enjoy visits to pubs, such as asthmatics and those with cigarette smoke intolerances. There has also been a huge increase in food sales with the air being noticeably cleaner and the overall environment more pleasant.
Lauriston Farm's successful experience has led to a change of policy within the Whitbread brand, Brewer's Fayre. The company has decided that all new Brewers Fayre outlets (averaging 6 per year) will now be smoke-free from the outset.