Special award for smoke-free bar

The NU Lounge operates a smoke-free policy

A Birmingham bar and restaurant with a strict anti-smoking policy has marked its opening with a top award.

The NU Lounge in Hurst Street has been open only a few days but has already received a Clean Air Award from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Manageress Frances Marsden said they had received the award because of their no-smoking rule right from the start.

The restaurant seats 50 and Ms Marsden said they had had no complaints from customers over their policy.

'Benefits everyone'

Ms Marsden told BBC News Online: "We thought it right to implement this rule as soon as we opened. We have plenty of notices around and everyone is adhering to the policy.

"It benefits both staff and customers, making conditions better for everyone.

"Also we serve Lebanese food, which is aromatic, and customers can appreciate its taste and smell a lot better."

The National Clean Air Award is given by the Roy Castle Foundation, named after the late entertainer, who died from lung cancer in 1994.

His career as a dancer, singer, comedian and trumpeter spanned over 30 years,

A lifelong non-smoker, he blamed his illness on passive smoking from performing in clubs.