2nd March 2007

Bell Inn, Adderbury - smoke-free for a day

The Bell Inn at Adderbury, Oxfordshire will be joining other pubs across the country by going smoke-free for one day - 14 March - to mark national No Smoking Day. Banning smoking for one day will give the pub an insight into the challenges of running a smoke-free pub before the national smoking ban, which begins on 1 July. It will also help customers to get used to the ban.

John and Trisha Bellinger, licensees at the Bell, have just returned from a fact finding visit to Ireland, where they saw for themselves the effect the smoking ban has had on pubs and what publicans there have done to comply with the new laws and what they have done to accommodate smokers. John said "Whether we like it or not the ban is due to come in at the start of July.

I think it is a good opportunity to encourage more people to visit the Bell and I'm looking forward to it. Having said that, I don't want to alienate my existing customers who may still want to be able to smoke. Obviously they won't be able to smoke in the pub but we have come away from our trip to Ireland with some ideas of how to create an area outside, where they can have a cigarette and not offend the majority of people using the pub!" Trisha Bellinger said "The Bell already caters for non-smokers with our smoke-free Wilfred's lounge, which is proving very popular, although because we donít have a lot of smokers who use the pub generally, our non-smoking customers are usually happy to use the other areas to eat or drink!" The pub will be holding a number of events to make the day go with a bang.

These are: At lunchtime they will be inviting people to eat in their newly refurbished Wilfred's Lounge and enjoy a free sweet after their meal. During the evening, between six and seven, every child accompanied by an adult can eat for half price and throughout the evening there will be a smoking related quiz for customers to take part in.

Customers will also be asked to take the time to complete a short customer survey about the smoking ban! The NHS Stop Smoking Service has been offered the use of one of the rooms at the Bell during their lunchtime session, to hold a clinic giving free local support to anyone wanting to give up smoking.

Morning Advertiser editor Andrew Pring said: "By banning smoking for one day, the Bell has shown it is preparing for the challenge to come."

For more information contact: John Bellinger FBII,

The Bell Inn
High Street
Adderbury
Banbury
OX17 3LS.
Tel: 01295 810338
Email: info@the-bell.com