NICHE market bar and restaurant group Market Town Taverns, which is pioneering no-smoking taverns in Yorkshire, has appointed Harrogate-based PR consultancy Mike Clarke Communications to support its business development.

Market Town Taverns, of Knaresborough, has eight taverns in the region in Harrogate, Northallerton, Wetherby, Ilkley, Skipton, Idle, Horsforth and Headingley. Initial PR activity will concentrate on media relations for the regional, national and trade print and broadcast media.

The group, which has a turnover of more than £2.5 million and employs more than 100 staff, has launched the first two brand-new, no-smoking taverns in Yorkshire, Arcadia Ale and Wine Bar, Headingley, and Muse Ale and Wine Bar, Wetherby.

Ian Fozard, managing director of Market Town Taverns, said: "We are very pleased we appointed Mike to act for us and are particularly impressed with his attention to detail, contact base and client communications skills as well as the impressive results achieved."

Mr Clarke, a former daily newspaper journalist, said: "We are delighted to add Market Town Taverns to our expanding portfolio of innovative and dynamic enterprises.

"Our combination of competitive fees, a focussed, creative approach and a 100 per cent target hit rate with media relations nationally is proving very attractive to growing businesses in the region and beyond."

Mike Clarke Communications works for a range of businesses in commercial law, architecture, construction, property development, retail security, printing, business representation, accountancy and new technologies.

Updated: 09:41 Thursday, May 27, 2004