Shire Hotels leads way in hospitality sector in England with ban on smoking on its premises

A hotel group has become the first hospitality employer in England to ban smoking on its premises.

Shire Hotels has vetoed smoking in all six of its properties, almost six months ahead of the government’s official smoking ban.

Ian Harkness, managing director of Shire told, Personnel Today’s sister publication, Caterer & Hotelkeeper: “We do not feel this decision represents any commercial risk as there’s been a steady drop in demand for smoking rooms at our properties during the past 15 years.

“Also, as we have around 8,000 leisure and spa members, we feel it fits with our ethos.”

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All offices, factories, shops, pubs, restaurants and membership clubs in England will become smoke-free zones on 1 July.

Under the new Health Act 2006, it will also be illegal for employees to smoke in work vehicles used by more than one person.