It has been done in New York and now moves to stub out smoking in bars and restaurants over here are gathering pace.

Brighton's first completely non-smoking caf and bar is due to open in the next fortnight and the move has been welcomed by health bodies.

The bar is the brainchild of Simon Timpson and Mark Eteen, who run the Brighton-based Security Corps supplying door staff for many of the city's pubs and clubs.

Both are heavily into fitness and, despite working in the smoky pub and club industry, they were fed up breathing in other people's fumes. Mr Eteen, 33, said: "Both of us have lots of friends who would like a completely smoke-free bar.

"I do everything I can to look after myself but I work in environments where there is smoking and as soon as I go into a bar I am passively smoking.

"We are not trying to victimise anyone but this will certainly be an option for people."

The bar, called Continental, is in North Street and will serve food as will as alcohol. The caf/bar will be bright and airy with more traditional brass fittings instead of modern chrome.

Mr Eteen added: "We know it's a gamble. Our business brain is saying it is a bit risky but our hearts are saying lets see what happens."

Very few bars and restaurants have gone down the no smoking route, preferring instead to have smoke free areas for fear of losing business.

Steve Swain, a training manager for Security Corps, believes the bar will be a success because many people do not like breathing in smoke. He added that working there might encourage him to stop.

He said: "Hopefully, it's going to have quite a good impact. It should appeal to people who don't just want a non-smoking section."

The plan has been greeted with enthusiasm by staff at Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust, (PCT) who have been working with local businesses to encourage the switch to no smoking areas.

A PCT spokesman said: "We want to encourage more businesses to do the same. It's not going to be easy and we cannot force people to do it but we don't think it will put people out of business.

"We would like to make this sort of thing the norm rather than the exception."