Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

Where to put a cigarette bin outside a pub

Updated: October 2026

A cigarette bin outside a pub can help keep ends off the ground, but the bin, the smoking place and any shelter are three separate decisions. In England, putting out a freestanding bin does not by itself create a smoking shelter or make an enclosed area lawful. Site the bin where customers already smoke outdoors, keep it visible and serviceable, and check planning, licensing and fire responsibilities before fixing anything to the frontage. The [standing ashtray comparison](/hub/diy-supplies/standing-ashtray) shows the lockable columns in this amazon.co.uk set. It does not replace advice for your premises. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

A cigarette bin outside a pub can help keep ends off the ground, but the bin, the smoking place and any shelter are three separate decisions.

Our top picks

SANGFOR SANGFOR adjustable ashtray

Best overall

SANGFOR SANGFOR adjustable ashtray
9.4/10about £26.99
View offer
RELIANCER Reliancer telescopic ashtray

Preis-Tipp

RELIANCER Reliancer telescopic ashtray
9.0/10about £24.99
View offer
Normodic Normodic lockable column

Alternative

Normodic Normodic lockable column
0.0/10about £79.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.A cigarette bin is not a smoking shelter
  2. 2.Apply England’s enclosure test to the space
  3. 3.Keep Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separate
  4. 4.Put the bin where people already stand
  5. 5.Control the lock, fire risk and approvals

A cigarette bin is not a smoking shelter

There is no general requirement to provide a smoking shelter. Merton and Northumberland councils both say premises can choose whether to provide one. A freestanding cigarette bin gives people a place to extinguish ends. It does not pass or fail the enclosure test. Problems start when a roof, walls or awnings make the smoking place enclosed or substantially enclosed. Use the place people already smoke, and check premises-licence conditions before you treat a beer garden as authorised. Cigarette ends on open land are litter under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 framework in the GOV.UK code of practice. A bin helps only when staff empty it and sweep the ground.

Apply England’s enclosure test to the space

In England, the Health Act 2006 and the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 govern enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces. A substantially enclosed space has a roof, and openings in the walls whose total area is less than half the wall area. Doors, windows and other fittings that can be closed do not count as open space. A roof can include a fixed or moveable cover such as an awning. Assess the smoking place, not the bin. An open-air bin beside an uncovered wall is not a shelter. Add a roof and screens, and you must calculate the permanent openings. The English provisions have applied since 1 July 2007. Northumberland suggests a 1.5 metre gap from nearby walls. That is council guidance, not a distance in the Health Act. Ask your council, and read the premises licence before you change the area.
SANGFOR SANGFOR adjustable ashtray

Testsieger

SANGFOR SANGFOR adjustable ashtray
9.4/10about £26.99
View offer

Keep Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separate

Do not copy England’s test across the United Kingdom. Scotland’s smoke-free duties come from the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005. Wales uses the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 and the Smoke-free Premises and Vehicles (Wales) Regulations 2020, including some outdoor settings. This page does not state a Northern Ireland equivalent to England’s 50 per cent openings test. If the premises is in Northern Ireland, use the current Northern Ireland rules. Northumberland’s 1.5 metre line is not a UK-wide rule.

Put the bin where people already stand

Put the bin where smokers already stand, visible and clear of a doorway, an accessible route and a fire exit. A distant bin will not collect ends where people gather. A £21 telescopic tray is usually the wrong pub type. The light home trays here weigh about 0.8–2.2 kg, hold a small cup and have no lock. The £79.99 Normodic states 94.5 cm, 6.5 kg, a supplied key, a flanged base and a removable inner bucket. The £89.99 Normodic does not confirm a key, and its dimensions conflict. VeftBltrem’s printed 5 g is not credible. The best standing ashtray page explains these conditions.

Control the lock, fire risk and approvals

A lock limits casual opening. It does not make a column fireproof or a smoking area lawful. Keep the key in a known place and do not let paper build up around the ends. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a workplace fire risk assessment. Appoint a competent person if you cannot complete it. Ask the owner and the council before you bolt a bin down, and check smoke-free rules, planning and the premises licence before you add a roof. Ends should be doused before they go into an outside metal bin. The standing ashtray emptying guide sets out that sequence.

Common questions

Can you put a cigarette bin outside a pub in England?
Yes, provided the location and installation comply with the rules and permissions that apply to the premises. The bin is not itself a shelter. Put it in an established outdoor smoking area, keep routes clear, check the premises licence and ask the council before fixing it to a frontage where consent may be needed.
Does a pub have to provide a smoking shelter?
No. English council guidance from Merton and Northumberland says there is no requirement to provide one. If you choose to build a shelter, it must comply with smoke-free rules as well as any planning, licensing and property requirements.
What does substantially enclosed mean in England?
Under the English regulations, a space with a roof is substantially enclosed when wall openings amount to less than half the wall area. Closable doors and windows do not count as openings. An awning can count as a roof, so assess the complete structure rather than only permanent masonry.
Is the 1.5 metre gap part of the Health Act?
No. The 1.5 metre gap appears in Northumberland County Council guidance. It is not a universal distance stated by the Health Act 2006. Check local guidance for the council area where the pub operates.
Do the same enclosure rules apply across the UK?
No. Scotland has the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, while Wales has its 2020 regulations under the Welsh framework. This page does not apply England’s 50 per cent wording to Northern Ireland. Check the correct national and local rules.
Is a cigarette end on the pavement litter?
Yes. The GOV.UK code of practice identifies cigarette ends as litter under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 framework. A visible, maintained bin and regular sweeping help, but the bin needs to be placed where smokers actually use the outdoor area.
Does a lockable column solve the fire risk?
No. A lock controls access to the liner. It does not extinguish ends, prove fire resistance or replace the workplace fire risk assessment. Staff still need a routine for dousing, emptying into an outside metal bin and dealing with damage or a missing key.

Related pages

Standing ashtray buying guide

Standing ashtray

Best standing ashtray: balcony, door, or busy spot

How to empty a standing ashtray: stub, douse, then bin

Telescopic ashtray vs cigarette bin: which one to buy

Sources

Public UK sources on smoke-free premises, litter, and fire safety, plus the British Stainless Steel Association on cleaning. Listing prices and star counts are from the amazon.co.uk extracts kept for this comparison, researched 15 October 2026. Prices move.

  1. Health Act 2006, smoke-free premises (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Smoke-free Premises and Vehicles (Wales) Regulations 2020 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. GOV.UK code of practice on litter and refuse (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK, fire risk assessments (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, smoking (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. Keep Britain Tidy, cigarette litter survey 2022–2024 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  9. Keep Britain Tidy, smoking-related litter baseline 2022 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  10. Northumberland County Council, smoking shelters (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  11. British Stainless Steel Association, cleaning stainless steel (retrieved 15 October 2026)