UK hotel chain Marston Hotels has welcomed the decision to ban smoking in public areas having already imposed tight restrictions at its newly-opened property in Nottingham.
The Kent-based company has banned smoking in all rooms, bars, restaurants and public areas at the Nottingham Belfry which opened on February 1.
It will be rolled out across its other 11 hotels depending on customer feedback.
Marston Hotels managing director Chris Scragg said: “We went out on a limb with our smoking restrictions at Nottingham but the sheer size of the Common vote and opinion polls around the country show that we are in tune with popular opinion on this issue.”
Staff are free from “secondary smoking”, while upholstery does not become stained and requires less cleaning, he added.
Scragg said he welcomed the ban as it as businesses can now “compete on a level playing field within the industry.”
Observers however said it was Martson who had created an “unlevel playing field” for itself by introducing tough anti-smoking laws in the first place.
