Landlord Glenn Wheatley, of The Elms in Broadwater, said profits had dropped significantly since smokers were banned from lighting up inside public places on July 1.

But while he believes he will not have to shut his doors anytime soon, he knows of others who are at immediate risk of closing for good.

Glenn, 45, said: "I think it needs to be said that what the government has done has affected our trade.

"It has emptied pubs. They've lost their heart.

"There is no atmosphere any more because everyone is shivering outside having a cigarette.

"I should think there are a few who have stopped coming to my pub altogether, and people definitely don't stay as long any more."

Trade hit in first months

Glenn said trade in July and August – when the ban was first introduced – was particularly bad although it has started to pick up a bit now.

He said he was determined not to let it ruin his business so he has introduced more live music and increased the amount of food he sells to draw people in.

Glenn, who has been running the Broadwater Street East pub for just over a year, said: "You have to diversify, and I think it's the other pubs that haven't that might be in trouble.

"The smoking ban is just the final nail in the coffin.

"We've all been suffering anyway because of supermarkets selling alcohol at a loss to themselves, which we obviously can't compete with.

"We are just trying to keep afloat, but it's hard."

Extra costs

Down the road at the Dolphin in Dominion Road, Worthing, takings are also down.

Landlord David Stocken said he campaigned with other publicans for more than three years to prevent the ban coming in.

Now, to help keep the customers coming through the doors, he has had to build front and back smoking areas.

David, 41, said: "It has cost me a lot to build them and I also have to pay to heat them through the year, but my customers have thanked me for making it as nice for them as I possibly can.

"We have bent over backwards to make sure they are looked after, but it is very annoying to see people having to go out in the appalling weather we've had lately.

"I don't smoke but most of my customers want to, so I wouldn't chose to impose a smoking ban if I didn't have to."

David believes in the next year as many as a third of pubs in the town could be lost due to falling profits.

He does not believe it is all due to the smoking ban but said it has made it even more difficult to run a pub as a business.

He said: "Profits went out the window a couple of years ago, at the moment it's just a case of trying to break even.

"We're trying to ride the storm and just hoping we come out the other side."

What do you think?

How has the smoking ban put you off going to the pub?

Do you prefer a smoke-free environment?

Let us know, comment in the space below.

Is your pub struggling in the aftermath of the smoking ban? If so, call the newsdesk on 01903 282358 or email letters@worthingherald.co.uk

FAGfile

• England was the last country in the UK and Ireland to introduce a total smoking ban in enclosed public buildings and workplaces. The ban in this country came into force on July 1, 2007.

• Ireland was the first on March 29, 2004. Scotland then followed on March 26 in 2006. On April 2 last year, Wales also introduced a total ban, closely followed by Northern ireland on April 30

.

• The idea behind the law is to help improve the health not only of smokers, but of those forced to inhale passive smoke.

• Despite the health benefits, the ban has been met with criticism by pub landlords and club owners, who say it has affected their trade.