Landlord defies pub smoking ban

Landlord defies pub smoking ban
Stuart Smith, licensee of the Golden Fleece, Rochdale Road, Greetland, puffed on a cigarette at the bar and said: "Somebody has to make a stand."

He said the pub had been closed for weeks before he took over two months ago and was on the verge of being boarded up.

"It was really struggling and making no money. So I said this is what we are going to do. We are going to allow people to smoke."

Mr Smith said he was the 30th licensee of the pub in 17 years. He has divided it into smoking and non-smoking sections.

"I am now getting more of the smoking trade. The old people from Greetland Social Club are coming in here.

"It is sad to see old people shivering outside because they have no smoking shelter for them."

The 39-year-old, who has managed dozens of pubs, claimed he would fight any attempt to prosecute or fine him.

"I am not just going to take this lightly. I would appeal any conviction and I'm going to take this all the way."

And his customers seemed happy with his actions.

Smoker Russell Bates said: "The only reason I come in here is to have a smoke."

Regular Richard Howard is a non-smoker, but said he thought the ban was ridiculous.

"The law says we should not smoke and I agree with the law but to force people outside into a shelter that has to be open on three-sides in Yorkshire, Scotland or Wales is unfair.

"I have never had a problem with walking into a smoking pub as a non-smoker. Until eight months ago it was the norm," he said.
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