Quaglino's upmarket restaurant in St James's is facing the end of an era and saying goodbye to its cigarette girls.

Tomorrow, Saturday, will mark the last day as a cigarette girl for Elizabeth Masnerova from the Czech Republic, who is also studying for a degree in jazz music at Middlesex University.

The restaurant is ending its famous cigarette girl service the day before the English smoking ban begins.

Ms Masnerova said her role as cigarette girl added to the theatre and atmosphere of the see-and-be-seen playground of the rich and famous.

But fear not for her student loans - Quaglino's said in a press release that Ms Masnerova would remain at the restaurant in a new role.