Punch Taverns, the UK's largest pub owner with approximately 8,400 leased, tenanted and managed pubs, has increased its turnover by 26 per cent to £340m in the last six months.

The group, which has 46 pubs in the Swindon post code area, has pumped £2.5m back into this region so far this financial year to fund refurbishment schemes at 28 different pubs.

The latest was a £400,000 facelift for the Red Lion at Faringdon when local MP Ed Vaizey pulled the first pint.

This was a joint investment - £330,000 from Punch Taverns and £70,000 from the licensee Maurice Toal's Gusto Inns group.

It has funded a complete refurbishment of this historic and picturesque former coaching inn, which has reopened as completely non-smoking ahead of the ban in July.

Dating from medieval times, the original building was destroyed by Cromwell's troops in 1645 and subsequently rebuilt using the rubble.

There is also a plaque on the wall pointing out that the pub was mentioned in the novel Tom Brown's Schooldays.

The revamp has breathed new life into this listed building, with stone flagstone floors and leather seating providing a comfortable environment in which to dine and relax.

There is also a covered and heated courtyard areas for smokers and an extensive garden and patio area for those warm summer days ahead.

Another pub which has had a complete face lift is the Bell at Broad Hinton.

Punch has completed the purchase of four individual freehold pubs in the area during the first half of this financial year, costing £4.6m.

But Punch is now working flat out to make sure that all its premises confine with the no smoking law when it comes in on the first of July.

"We are ready for the legislation," said Ian Marchant, regional operations director for Punch Taverns.

"We are creating smoking areas at our pubs but we must be smoke-free everywhere else on the premises. It's important that customers are keen to drink and dine have a smoke free environment. Likewise we must try and keep a place for our smokers."

In Scotland sales did fall by one and a half per cent after the Scottish ban 12 months ago. But they are picking up now.

In Wales where there was a ban a month ago the company say it's too early to give figures and an opinion.