Simon Emeny, managing director of Fuller Smith & Turner's pubs, has called on the industry to present a united front to the government over the issue of duty increases in the next budget.
With a smoking ban looming, Emeny said the industry should take a leaf out of the bingo operators' book and call for a better deal from the government in the form of fiscal assistance.
"We are preparing for the smoking ban and I believe we've one of the best-placed estates for the new rules, but beyond working hard to mitigate its effect we don't know what the outcome will be," Emeny said.
"The industry has had a hell of a lot to cope with in recent times, with rising costs and the like, and any duty increase [in the Chancellor's budget in March] will be totally unjustified," he added.
Emeny noted the fact that UK's bingo operators have recently joined forces in a effort to persuade the government to change certain regulations covering their business, including a call to scrap VAT on bingo takings.
"No-one wants duty increases and we should be co-operating more and presenting a united front to persuade the government of our case," Emeny said.
Many bingo operators fear up to 200 of the country's 800 bingo halls will close when the English and Welsh smoking bans come in later this year.
Emeny said Fuller's had had a "very good" Christmas and New Year, "especially in the City and other London locations", adding there had been a "huge increase" in function bookings over the period.