English smokers have just seven days left to enjoy the evil weed in pubs, restaurants, hotel bars, nightclubs and other enclosed public spaces before being booted outside. Unless, that is, they are lucky enough to be staying at one of the Hotel du Vin's properties. It is installing luxury wooden 'cigar shacks' in the gardens of five of its hotels with comfortable chairs, lights, bar and humidor, plus open sides to comply with the law.

Hotels will still be allowed to have smoking bedrooms, but are having to find new uses for their cigar bars - some are trying to maintain the 'boys' club' atmosphere by replacing humidors and ashtrays with PlayStations. However a few indoor smoking refuges will remain. Floridita, the Cuban-themed London bar and restaurant, plans to exploit a loophole in the law allowing cigars and pipes to be 'sampled' inside specialist tobacconists. It is separating off its cigar shop, and will allow diners and drinkers to go inside to smoke. Couches and coffee tables are being installed in the 'shop' to make things more comfortable.

Meanwhile die-hard puffers will be pleased to note that an airline specifically for smokers will launch in October. Smintair will fly between Dusseldorf and Tokyo.