Fume-free feeding has been a hit at Monty's Restaurant with owner Walter Simmons becoming a pioneer for a campaign to ban smoking in other eateries.

On Monday pressure group Advocates for Non-Smoking said a ban was necessary to cut down on the health risks and annoyance smokers caused non-smokers.

Mr. Simmons said his Pitt's Bay Road restaurant had banned smoking inside a year and a half ago and business has been booming.

He said complaints about the smoking section had reached such a point he decided to do his own survey.

He said: "We pretended the air conditioner had broken, we had to give some excuse, and said there was a temporary smoking ban.

"We had so much good feedback, far outweighing the negatives that we kept the ban."

Smokers can still puff away at his outdoor tables said Mr. Simmons, but many lunchtime diners were happy to smoke walking to and from the restaurant so the ban did not affect them.

He added: "We have lost a couple of customers due to the non-smoking policy."

But he said he had noticed an increase in business and customer satisfaction.

"People come in and ask for a non-smoking table and we say take your pick and they are delighted."

He said non-smoking sections did not work because diners at neighbouring tables could light up and he urged more restaurants to ban smoke.

"My advice to other restaurants is go for it. Eventually it's going to come in."

Mr. Simmons added he does not back Advocates for Non-Smoking's bid to ban smoking from all public places.