All pubs, clubs, restaurants and other premises will be smoke-free beginning next year following a landmark vote in the Commons.

MPs overwhelmingly voted 384 to 184 to introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in a free vote culminating months of debate over originally proposed exemptions for private members’ clubs and pubs, clubs and other licensed establishments that do not serve food.

Prime minister Tony Blair agreed to allow a free vote last month when it became clear his partial ban legislation would be defeated.

Both Blair and his health secretary Patricia Hewitt voted for the total ban, which is now scheduled to take effect from summer 2007.

While initially fearing their customers would desert a smoke-free environment and damage their sales, many pub and bar owners came around in the months of consultation from opposing a ban to accepting it.

Many licensed premise owners were particularly vociferous in their opposition to the proposed exemptions under Blair’s partial ban, which they felt gave certain establishments, such as private members’ clubs and non-food premises, an unfair advantage.

Britain’s beer industry today expressed its satisfaction with last night’s result.

“We are pleased that MPs have ensured a level playing field for all, with no exemption for private members’ clubs,” said Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

“Such clubs are in direct competition with pubs, and they are not private places. They sell 1.2 billion pints of beer a year, and their thousands of employees are subject to the same health and safety at work regulations as pub industry staff.”

Nevertheless, Hastings said the future now remains uncertain for some small establishments, as they must begin to prepare their customers for a new cultural shift.

“There is still the prospect that hundreds of community pubs will close and people will lose their jobs,” he said.

The ban will also cost landlords spot fines of £200 for failing to display no-smoking signs in their establishments. If the issue goes to court, they could be forced to pay up to £1,000 under the new rules.