Millions of people across England have since been forced to stub out their cigarettes before stepping foot inside all enclosed public places.

But 12 months after the ban was introduced, has it affected businesses in and around Newmarket?

According to Tony Carr, general manager of Newmarket Snooker Centre in All Saints Road, it certainly has.

"Yes, it's affected us dramatically," he said.

"People who used to come to the club on a regular basis used to sit at the bar and have a cigarette.

"We have snooker players not playing anymore because they can't have a smoke."

Three months before the ban, the club made its bar non-smoking as well as introducing other smoke free areas.

Although it also has an outside area for smokers, Mr Carr said it had not made any difference.

And he said the ban had failed to attract more non smokers – as the Government had hoped.

"You only have to look at Newmarket to see how small clubs are suffering," he added.

Echoing his views was barman Carl Harris, who works at the town's Conservative Club.

"It's quiet now throughout the day and night," he said.

Fellow barman Michael Woodhall added: "Not many people come for a social drink. On a Saturday night, people come for a dance but that's normally it."

Keith Pawley, landlord of the New Wellington in Cheveley Road, said a number of regulars who would come for a drink three to four times a week now only visited a couple of times.

Even though there is a covered smoking area at the back of the pub, he believes people are not willing to stand outside in the cold, especially in winter.

"Most people will tell you they are probably 25 per cent down on turnover, minimum, because of the smoking ban," explained Mr Pawley.

"It's not too bad in the summer but people will not come out in winter like they used to.

"It's always been part of pub life to have a smoke, it was a tradition.

"They don't stay as long as they used to. It's the same everywhere – it's a nightmare."

The New Wellington has fought back by increasing the size of its restaurant and adding more food to its menu in a bid to attract customers.

Villages outside of Newmarket have not escaped the effects of the smoking ban either.

Colleen Sullivan, landlady of the Black Horse in Swaffham Bulbeck, said: "I keep going but it's certainly affected us without a doubt.

"For a start, we are not getting the heavy smokers through the door.

"We are quite lucky though as we have got accommodation and food."

However, it is not all doom and gloom for some of the area's pubs.

Smokers visiting The Bushel in Newmarket's Market Street have been kept happy with an outside covered area, which includes benches, a heater and is wired up to the juke box inside.

"It hasn't affected us," said landlord Martin Jared.

"The smokers have got their music, their lights and it all seems to go all right.

"I was originally concerned about it but if anything, it has helped us on food."

Ian Spinks, deputy manager at the New Astley Club, said although the venue was slightly affected early on in the ban, members, which are stable and stud workers, still regularly go in.

It is a similar story at The Cherry Tree in Soham, which has two covered outside smoking areas.

Landlord Steve Beech said: "I don't think it's had that much of an impact really.

"I think it has affected the trade but everyone's just got used to it now."

What do you think? Email your views to kelly.felstead@newmarketjournal.co.uk