Landlord in court over smoking ban

A publican is due in court for allegedly allowing smokers to light up in his Blackpool establishment despite the recent ban.

Hamish Howitt is the first pub landlord to be prosecuted for allegedly flouting the ban which came into force in England on July 1.

Owners and managers of pubs, clubs and cafes are legally-bound to enforce the ban and face fines of up to £2,500 if they fail to do so.

Mr Howitt is due to appear before Blackpool Magistrates' Court this afternoon to answer seven separate summonses.

Council officers served all the summonses on the landlord in one night earlier this month at the resort's Happy Scots Bar.

The Scotsman has been a staunch critic of the ban and has even set up a political party named Fight Against Government Suppression (FAGS).

He could face a total bill of up to £17,500 if he is convicted of the offences but said he is prepared to go to jail rather than pay any penalty and has vowed to take the matter to the Court of Human Rights.

Mr Howitt said five of his customers had received fixed penalty notices of £50 for smoking illegally in the Rigby Road pub and he had paid three of the fines.

Blackpool Council said it had been approaching the enforcement of the ban throughout the resort in a "non-confrontational way" and had verbally informed Mr Howitt he faced prosecution before the summonses were issued.

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