ON July 1 2007, the whole of the United Kingdom went smokefree as new legislation was put in place to have legally-enforced protection from secondhand smoke.

For pubs, bars and clubs in Taunton, this sent shockwaves through business owners as they felt it was cause a loss of custom.

However, one landlord claimed he could use the ban on smoking in pubs to attract more customers.

Tim Prosser, a 40-a-day man, built a smoking pavilion at his pub, the Princess Royal, in Canon Street, Taunton.

Mr Prosser was granted planning permission to build the wooden pavilion so his customers could nip outside into the wooden building, sit down and have a smoke.

Mr Prosser, said: “It will be a venue for people to relax and enjoy a fag in. I’m doing it to maintain my trade.”

Elsewhere, Philippa Ash, manageress of Mambo –formerly known as Millers – in Taunton, said: “There’s loads of regulations and loads of rules, but we’re fine with it.

“We will have smoking and non-smoking areas outside, and customers will get fined if they don’t stick to the rules, and so will we.”

And Deborah Turner, owner of the Queens Arms in Pitminster, started fining smokers £5, which will be donated to St Margaret’s Hospice, if they throw their finished cigarettes on the ground outside her pub.

Kevin Nicolls, landlord of the Butcher’s Arms, Carhampton, was busy putting up no smoking signs when the County Gazette called in 2007.

"Like everyone else, we’ll have to wait and see how it affects us, he said.

“We have some customers who only smoke when they drink.”

All smoke-free premises and vehicles had to have no-smoking signs clearly displayed and small stickers were available from Taunton Deane Council.

What do you think, looking back on it, did you prefer it when you could smoke in these venues? Or is it better as it is now?