A NEWPORT bar that banned smoking did a U-turn as it was losing £2,000 a week in trade.

Roger Wilson, 38, of Caerleon opened Newport's first smoke-free pub, the Louisville, on High Street, in December last year. He was inspired by bars in Dublin and Cardiff and had high hopes of attracting regular non-smoking customers.

But now, he has turned off the smoke-alarms in the toilets and invited the smokers back in as the business was unable to compete with nearby pubs where customers were allowed to smoke. Since then, takings have trebled and the bar has regular customers.

Mr Wilson said: "I am really disappointed - I am a non-smoker and am against smoking.

"It was really great to be smoke-free and we attracted a nice clientele. But it was quiet in the evenings and we weren't breaking even."

Mr Wilson supports a smoking ban across Wales' pubs and clubs because of the health risks for staff and passive smokers.

But he said: "The only way small places like this can afford to ban smoking is if everyone has to. Otherwise we can't compete."

Mr Wilson said when he opened the bar he thought a nationwide smoking ban would be brought in sooner. a ban is expected to be in place within three years.

Jane Richards, the co-licensee, said: "At the time, I asked customers if they came because we were non-smoking and most said it didn't make a difference. Smoking is a fashion trend for young people and we had to go with that."

Customers at the bar seem happy with the new rules. Tracey Davies, 42, from Shaftesbury is a regular.

She said: "I never came in when it was non-smoking. Although I like it here I wouldn't come if I couldn't have a cigarette."

Paul Mitchell, 35, from St Julians said: "I wouldn't usually go to a smoke-free pub."