I congratulate the Fieldings at the Coach House Hotel in Marygate, York, for being completely smoke-free. It is time some other bars did the same.

There are many pubs which are smoke-free when serving meals but the ashtrays go on the tables as soon as the salt cellars are taken away. I hope landlords are brave enough to follow the Fieldings lead. Why should non-smokers be expected to leave a pub as soon as meals are no longer available, or put up with the smoke? After all, there are more of us and we have more money to spend because we do not waste it on cigarettes.

I think most guest houses, which Gillian Cruddas is supposed to represent, are smoke-free as are quite a few hotels. The Coach House Hotel deserves a gold gong from the National Clean Air Awards.

Jen Williams,

Cornmill Lodge Guest House,

Haxby Road, York.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, February 11, 2005