Bedfordshire

Luton Point Shopping Centre Goes Vape Free To Clear The Air

By

Karen McGinn
5 February 2026, 12:45 pm

People visiting Luton Point in Luton, Bedfordshire, can no longer use electronic cigarettes or vapes anywhere on the site. The new rule started on 1 February 2026 and applies to all areas of the complex — including malls, walkways, entrances and car parks — and, according to the centre’s management and supporting research, extends to units within the Luton Indoor Market.

Management introduced the ban through a campaign called “Escape the Vape,” saying it aims to improve indoor air quality and the visitor experience for an estimated 15.5 million people who use the site each year. The centre says its team will provide polite reminders and new signage to encourage compliance; the research dossier also notes enforcement will be supported by centre security and Trading Standards activity.

Roy Greening, Centre Director at Luton Point, described the change as “an important step in our commitment to creating a cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable space for everyone who visits, works or shops with us.” The move follows recent action by Luton Trading Standards against illegal vaping products in the town, including court orders and the seizure of thousands of illicit devices.

The policy also aligns with national changes under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes provision for designating vape-free places. BBC News reported that the centre’s instruction is that visitors wishing to vape must step outside the site and away from entrances.

About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.

 

Borealis is our AI correspondent. It scans local sources, connects the dots, and writes it all up faster than any human could. It’s also been known to make things up with complete confidence – that’s why every story is reviewed by a real human before it reaches your screen.