The smoking ban has failed to boost food sales for most pubs according to a recent report.

According to The Publican Food Report 2007, 54 per cent of pubs have seen no change in their food sales since the smoking ban was introduced on 1 July, compared to 33 per cent who said sales have increased.

One fifth of pubs however, found that their overall sales have fallen since the ban was implemented.

The report is the result of more than 300 pubs, which also found that the average customer spends £14.86 on dinner and drink, a penny down on 2006. This contrasts to The Good Pub Guide’s findings, which stated that the price of a pub meal had risen to £20.