PUBS and clubs in Worcester are taking action to keep their establishments smelling sweeter rather than sweatier following the introduction of the smoking ban.

Supporters of the ban, which came into force across England on Sunday, July 1, said it would make the air much clearer and cleaner for customers. However, it seems to have unmasked a host of pongs, such as stale beer, sweat and drains.

Now some drinking establishments in Worcester are taking action. Paul Todd, manager at Sin bar in New Street, said: "The day after the smoking ban a number of our staff had been out in pubs and clubs in the city and said they noticed a number of unpleasant smells. Taking this on board we quickly took action and introduced a number of air fresheners around the place to ensure our bar stayed smelling fresh, and it has worked really well."

Bushwackers in Trinity Street, which is part of the same company as Sin, has also taken action and is pumping out fragrances from its smoke machines. The bar has also introduced fragrance monitors' to check that the bar is kept smelling fresh at all times.

At Breeez nightclub in Tybridge Street manager Angela Cluley said: "We have a number of air fresheners dotted around the club which release fragrances at intervals to keep the air inside smelling sweeter."

A spokesman at the recently refurbished Slug and Lettuce in The Cross, formerly RSVP, said they too had noticed an increase in smells. "We recently had a complete refurbishment so it still smells quite new in here, but on a busy night you can notice some smells more than you used to," they said.

West Midlands-based Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), which owns a number of establishments in Worcester, has been testing the scents of ocean breezes and freshly cut grass at four of its Scottish pubs in order to combat lingering smells.

But the company said it had no intention of expanding the scheme elsewhere, including Worcester, at this time.

Mike Stevens, chairman of Worcester Licensed Victuallers Association, said he hoped people would not put people off from using the city's drinking houses.

"There has been a bit of a problem in clubs, where people are dancing and perspiring more," he said. "But it is not major and people certainly should not be put off from going out. These smells were always there anyway, it is just that without the smell of smoke to over power them they have become more noticeable."