The maker of the Black Country’s favourite ale is spending around £20 million to counter the possible damaging effects of the fast-approaching smoking ban.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries is working hand in hand with licensees to make outside areas more attractive to all its customers, including smokers who will be forced to indulge in their habit outside.

But the Banks’s brewer is providing facilities costing many thousands of pounds, including what can only be described as a top-of-the-range garden room at The Apple Tree at Coseley, which has cost £30,000.

The “smoking room” comes with all the home comforts, including tables and chairs, a fire – and, of course, ashtrays.

Manager Steve Morley said: “The ban is not in force yet but people do use the smoking area, and it has gone down very well with the regulars and when the ban does come into effect we are not expecting to be as badly hit as many other places.”

The firm said 90 per cent of its outlets had some kind of outside trading area, and it had worked closely with both managers and tenants to make the most of the opportunities the ban would bring.