Marston's prepares to steam clean its Welsh pubs

Licensees in Wales are preparing to push a new broom through their pubs when the smoking ban comes in next week.

With the legislation due to be introduced at 6am on Monday April 2, Marston's Pub Company has launched a major 'spring clean' initiative designed to help all its Welsh pubs make the most of the ban.

During the first two weeks of April more than 200 pubs will be steam-cleaned, free of charge.

Licensee Tom Pritchard, of the Evergreen Inn in Tenby, South Wales, said that as well as cleaning the pub, he was planning to redecorate throughout shortly after the ban. "It's up to us to give the pub a fresh look," he said.

The pub has also created an al fresco seating area - but Tom is unsure about how it will pan out.

"About 90 per cent of our customers smoke - there's a percentage who only smoke when they come to the pub," he said. "Whether they will stop smoking or stop coming to the pub after the ban remains to be seen."

Myra and Colin Hughes, of the Boat Yard in Bangor, North Wales, are more optimistic. The pub went with the ban early, outlawing smoking following a refurbishment in January this year.

"It's great, the customers like it, and even the smokers like it," Myra said. "It's surprised me - we have seen a lot of new customers and we thought there would be more negative reaction than we've had."

Myra said one of the keys to getting in new customers was banning the smell of smoke from the premises.

Marston's operations director Andrew Andrea said the company had decided to offer pubs free steam-cleaning following feedback from Scotland. "There is little point in developing outdoor areas and redecorating the inside if you don't clean the carpets and upholstery," he said.

Myra and Colin Hughes banned smoking in their pub following a refurbishment in January