Pizza and paella can be enjoyed in smoke-free setting when the Tip Pepe restaurant in Southampton goes smoke free in the new year.

Smokers will have to light up outside if they want to enjoy a cigarette once the ban comes into effect on January 1.

Manager Enrique Maresma said the popular Mediterranean eatery decided to go smoke free after receiving a number of repeat requests from visitors and locals who had given up the habit. Families and children who frequent the restaurant also made requests for a smoke free place to have a meal.

Mr. Maresma, who is from Spain where many people continue to smoke, said he has given up and wants to keep it that way.

"If you're a smoker and you quit you do a complete 360-degree turn. If you smell any smoke you hate it, it definitely does not help," he said.

The restaurant has 45 chairs inside and a terrace outside will remain open to smokers to dine al fresco.

The move was made when the restaurant staff, none of whom smoke, decided it would be unhealthy to allow smoking indoors during the winter when it is too cold to turn on the air conditioning.

International trends to ban smoking in North America and Europe have also started to affect how local enterprises are run with several restaurants on the Island now offering a smoke free atmosphere.

"Smokers have been coming here for years for the food and the atmosphere ? it may take some getting used to but I think at the beginning chain smokers will find it difficult. Anyone who does want to smoke can step outside and have a cigarette."