Pubs that banned smoking for one day to mark national No Smoking Day have reported bumper takings to accompany the fresher air.
The Morning Advertiser called for pubs to ditch smoking on 14 March to see what lessons could be learnt and to generate extra publicity.
"It was one of the busiest Wednesdays we've had," said John Bellinger, licensee of Hook Norton's Bell in Adderbury, Oxfordshire.
"We did more food on Wednesday than we have for a while. We advertised it and a few people deliberately stayed away - maybe out of protest or they wanted to smoke right up until 1 July."
The pub offered their customers free desserts with main meals and half-price dishes for children.
A survey of 75 customers revealed that only one of the nine smokers said they would visit the pub less often after the ban. All of the non-smokers said they would visit at least as often.
Bellinger said he is about to submit planning application for a wooden canopy with a shelf and bar stool in advance of the ban. The premise's licence will also need to be varied to allow people to drink outside until midnight.
"There's quite a bit to get done in the next three months and I think a lot of licensees don't realise they have to get on with it."
Leanne Martin, manager at the Village Inn at Corby, Northamptonshire, reported strong food sales on No Smoking Day.
"There was quite a positive reaction and that surprised me," she said. "All our regular smokers went outside and there was no problem. Quite a lot of people said they will try to stop smoking when the ban comes in."
Health officials from the local council were on hand to advise customers on quitting smoking.