A landlord has defended a controversial move to ban all smoking at his pub - arguing it's not 'woke' and will attract more customers than it will lose.

John Garrod, landlord of the Hope Inn in Hythe, Kent, has decided to ban all smoking on the pub's premises, including in its beer garden and patio area.

The 72-year-old, a non-smoker himself, believes the move will appeal to those wanting to enjoy a drink or a meal outside without being engulfed in clouds of second-hand smoke.

However, Mr Garrod has sparked a backlash since announcing the move - with many locals branding it 'woke' and saying they didn't want to be 'nannied'.

But Mr Garrod has defended his ban - which he believes could be a UK-first - saying his pub is more for eating than drinking.

"You only need one person to be smoking a cigarette and their smoke is wafting over several other people, which makes it slightly less pleasant than it would otherwise be," the landlord said. "

"So, the obvious action to take is to stop smoking within the garden, for the comfort of the majority."

"Not many of our customers smoke because of the demographic we attract. Most of them will eat, rather than just drink."

"Through the summer, the garden gets very, very busy with people eating."

Smoking was banned inside pubs and restaurants across most of the UK in 2007, but the rules did not extend to outside spaces such as beer gardens.

Last summer, the government revealed it was considering adding outdoor areas to the ban - but later scrapped the plans after a fierce backlash from the hospitality industry.

Despite Labour's u-turn on an outdoor smoking ban, Mr Garrod decided to impose his own rules anyway, with customers now having to leave the Hope Inn's premises entirely to smoke.

Unlike some other pubs in the UK that have designated areas for smokers, there is now nowhere at the Hope Inn where punters are allowed to light up.

Mr Garrod explained that those who refuse to comply will be politely asked to stop, adding that there are many other venues nearby they could choose to visit instead where they can smoke.

"It's completely their choice," he said."

"There are some good pubs in the area, which I reckon is where the drinkers and the smokers go."

"We don't really have many people that drink without eating, and we don't have the ‘five-pints-a-night' guys or anything like that."

"It's not our style, and we're probably a bit expensive if you're only drinking, to be honest with you."

Figures from 2023 showed 18.9 per cent of adults in Folkestone and Hythe still smoked - the highest proportion in Kent and well above the national average of nearly 12 per cent.

It's therefore unsurprising that Mr Garrod's plans drew criticism when he shared news of the ban online.

One customer, Sara Hopper, responded saying: "That's a shame John! You know I love your pub, but I think that's crazy. "

"Why shouldn't I enjoy a ciggie in the garden with my £6 pint?"

"It's not harming anyone else! I work hard not to be nannied! Ridiculous!"

Non-smoker Debbie Marsh also disagreed with the move, saying: "I've never smoked in my life, but I don't agree with that. "

"Not in the garden - you could lose a lot of customers."

Another woman, Sophie Pendragon, commented: "One of my few joys left is a cigarette and a glass of wine in a pub garden."

"My garden is a cheaper option anyway, but I liked helping our local businesses."

Andy Heath simply wrote: "Go woke, go broke."

But the pub has also won supporters with its move, with Ann Longstaff amongst those backing the ban.

"This is a great decision," she said."

"Some smokers are selfish and don't care who they puff their smoke at!"

"A lot of people sit outside in the lovely garden area, not just smokers, just to enjoy the nicer weather and sunshine, with their dogs after a nice walk, for example, so I don't see what's ‘woke' about it."

Despite the complaints, Mr Garrod remains undeterred and says the support he's also received - both on social media and in person - is reassuring.

He hopes the move will win more new customers than the disgruntled locals it may lose.

"Some people don't understand it, although a lot of smokers do understand it and are very agreeable with it," Mr Garrod continued. "

"But smokers don't smell smoke, so they don't appreciate the discomfort other people are going through."

"The overwhelming majority of people are non-smokers and would rather not have smoke drifting over them while they're eating."

"I think we'll probably gain business over it."

"There are some very, very nice customers that we have that do smoke, and I'm sad to lose them."

"But I'm a business, and I need to attract the majority of people, not the minority."

"I think we may be the first to do it, but we won't be the last."

"If it's voluntary and not legislation, I think some pubs will be non-smoking gardens and some pubs will be drinkers' and smokers' pubs. "

"And I think that's perfectly fine."

Whilst smoking is now banned, vaping is affected by the new rule for now.

Mr Garrod, whose wife Noiy runs the pub's adjoining Thai street food restaurant, believes vaping is less intrusive, but says he will 'see how it goes'.