The Landsdowne Hotel has been in my family for more than 30 years.

I also opened a small members club, Club XS, a couple of years ago and am chairman of the region's Licensed Victuallers Association.

So I know that if you want to stay in business, you have to give people what they want.

My hotel has banned smoking in the restaurant but allows it in the bar, which is also used as a TV room. Many of my guests enjoy a couple of drinks and a cigarette while watching TV.

My guests don't want to be pushed outside in the rain but they will have to be if I am forced to ban all smoking.

If people who use pubs really wanted a smoking ban, there would be more which have already voluntarily banned it. The truth is that the people who are pushing for a ban have little or nothing to do with our industry.

We supply what the customers want - a choice. A ban only delivers one choice - no smoking - which is no choice at all.

-Paul Rumble, Landsdowne Hotel, Hastings