STUBBING out the cigarettes is putting a damper on pub conversation, claims Fordington publican Fred Wild.

He said customers are dropping out of friendly chats to nip outside for a cigarette following the smoking ban in public buildings - including his Bull's Head pub.

He said: "The smoking ban won't affect town centre places so much because you get groups of people in and out of them, but I've definitely noticed the effect.

"My regulars like to come in and play a game of crib or have a chat together and now it's breaking up because they have to go outside to smoke.

"It's definitely changed. It might settle down and change back. It's too early to say."

He said it was also too early to say if it would lead to a drop in trade. Mr Wild was speaking at the first meeting of the town's Pubwatch group since the smoking ban came into effect on July 1.

He said customers are now going outside to a smoking shelter instead of staying inside for a drink and a cigarette.

He said: "Customers like to have a conversation and a bit of repartee and it's disappearing.

"The smoking ban will ruin the atmosphere in pubs because it's breaking up groups of customers.

"People are not chatting together so much. Perhaps the Government will decide to change it back again - they might."

Steve Newstead, manager of the Wetherspoon's pub the Royal Oak, said his company had noted a range of problems around the country since the band came in.

He said: "Problems include smoke drift, people blocking fire exits when they stand outside doors to smoke and rubbish being left."

And Karen O'Donnell, licensing officer with Dorset Police, said publicans needed to be aware of customers going outside with drinks.

She said: "People should not be going off the curtilege of your property with their drinks. And from a policing point of view it's not safe for them to take glass bottles and glasses outside.

"They can get dropped but they can also be used as a weapon later on if they get left out.

"I can understand why people don't want to leave their drinks unattended in pubs but there could be knock-on effects."

Mr Newstead said he thought the smoking ban would have more impact in the winter when it was cold outside.