A PUB landlord today said many of his longest-serving customers had been driven away by the smoking ban.

Martin Hagan, of the Bootham Tavern, York, said people who used to come in everyday were now going elsewhere to drink, because he had been unable to provide a smoking-area.

Mr Hagan said City of York Council had rejected his application to construct an awning in front of the pub, as it was in a conservation area.

As a result, he says, drinkers have gone to other nearby pubs.

He said: "I have lost customers. It would not be so bad if I had somewhere for them to go."

Mr Hagan was speaking after the first full weekend of the ban, but most other publicans who spoke to The Press said the impact had been fairly small.

Tony Sissons, at the Three Cranes, in St Sampson's Square, said: "I think, in general, it has been okay.

"We have not seen any drop in custom. It's been hard because of the weather but overall positive. Certainly, there has been no downfall."

His pub has no beer garden, but Mr Sissons said people had been going outside to smoke, and they had seen a lot of new people coming in as well.

Vic Smedley at the Five Lions, in Walmgate, said trade had been down on Sunday, but he thought that may have been due to the weather.

Laura Scott, at the Independent, in Haxby Road, said: "We had a bit of a quiet weekend but we had a busier week than normal. Everyone has been totally fine with it."

Brigantes, in Micklegate was already fully no-smoking.

Manager Paul Burton said: "Overall, I think trade has been slightly slower, but we did more food than usual. It's not had a great impact. I think long term there might be a bit of a change in some regulars, but at the same time we might get some of those that used to not come in."

Anita Adams, landlady at the Golden Slipper in Goodramgate, said: "It has gone okay. Everybody is getting used to having to go outside to have a cigarette.

"There is still some resentment though, because it's a legal pastime and people do not like being told what to do."