A YORK hotel is believed to be the first in the city to ban smoking throughout its bar, lounge and restaurant.

The Coach House Hotel, in Marygate, imposed the ban - which also stops patrons smoking in their rooms - after new owner Dawn Fielding took over three weeks ago.

Mrs Fielding, who is running the oak-beamed hotel with her husband, Paul, said visitors who crave a cigarette, cigar or pipe now have to step out into the street if they want to light up.

The ban comes after the Government recently announced plans to see smoking banned in most English pubs by 2008.

A White Paper released proposes making most enclosed public spaces, such as bars, tobacco-free, although pubs which do not serve food would escape the ban.

Mrs Fielding, who lived in the Isle of Man before moving to York, said even those customers who did smoke had reacted positively to the ban.

She said she felt strongly about smoking because after her grandfather had died of cancer which, she felt had been caused by lighting up.

In her previous job, Mrs Fielding worked with health authorities in the Isle of Man to promote the anti-smoking message. "I just feel that it is about time that people were allowed to sit and enjoy their food and stay in a totally smoke free environment," she said.

"When you consider that 75 per cent of the population is now non-smoking, they should be able to go into a smoke free area.

"We think we are the first hotel in York to do this and we have had a very positive response from our customers.

"Those who want to smoke seem quite happy to go outside and come back in when they are finished. The overwhelming majority of people have backed it."

Her decision follows that of the Blue Bell, in Alne, which has banned smoking in the bar. Pub chain Weatherspoons has also outlined plans to outlaw smoking in its outlets.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said other York hotels had expressed some concern about what a smoking ban would do to their business. But they felt resigned that legislation would come in that would mean all cigarettes would have to be stubbed out.

Referring to the Coach House Hotel, Mrs Cruddas said: "This is an area that we ought to explore to see whether there is a market for people who want to stay in an environment which is completely smoke free."

Simon Clark, of pro-smoking lobby FOREST, said the Coach House Hotel was entitled to do whatever it wanted in a private business.

But he said: "Without wishing to be rude to this lady, I would suggest her hotel and restaurant invested in a good air filtration system."

Updated: 10:30 Friday, February 04, 2005