Winchester drinkers are to get their first completely smoke-free pub.

The Green Man in Southgate Street will ban smoking inside the premises from Sunday, May 1.

Geoff Lugger and Bethan Manning took over the tenancy a month ago, having moved from a largely smoke-free pub in Botley, near Eastleigh.

They say they were astonished to find there was not yet a smoke-free pub in the city. Despite having no-smoking signs on the tables in the dining area, they were dismayed that smoke from the bar was affecting the whole pub.

Mr Lugger said: "We are looking forward to welcoming customers who don't want to go home with clothes and hair smelling of smoke.

"Those of our customers who do smoke are welcome to go into our courtyard for a cigarette," he said.

The move has been welcomed by the city council and the NHS, which are supporting the Smoke Free Eating and Drinking Award Scheme.

Robert Carroll, head of health promotion at Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust, said: "This is great news for Winchester."

He added: "At last people who go out in the city centre will be able to have a drink or a meal in a pub without suffering the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

"Until now they did not have a choice and I congratulate Geoff and Bethan for responding to the wishes of the majority of people who prefer not to sit in a smoky atmosphere."

Soon to follow is the Dog and Crook in Brambridge, near Colden Common, which is to go smoke free on June 1.

Both the publican, Kevin Dawkins, and some of his regulars have recently stopped smoking with the help of the NHS Quit Smoking Service. They say that although they now don't like smoky atmospheres they know that they will find it hard to stay quit while smoking is allowed in one area of the pub.

Mr Dawkins said: "We are determined to succeed this time and once the pub is smoke-free it will be easier to resist the temptation to light up. Our customers will appreciate the smell of our wonderful food instead of stale smoke as they walk in."