PUB chain JD Wetherspoon is expected to report a sharp fall in half-year profits this week.

The chain which has two pubs in Swindon and is opening a third is expected to announce a drop of between 14 and 18 per cent to £23 million.

The chain owns the Savoy and the Groves Company Inn in the town centre.

It is at the forefront of the drive to ban smoking in pubs.

When the group's Lloyds No 1 bar opens at Greenbridge later this month it will be the firm's second no-smoking bar.

The ban will then be rolled out across its other outlets.

However, analysts fear the smoking ban will hit profits further.