Smoke rebel reveals plan for flats
Smoke rebel reveals plan for flats
By Joe Robinson
THE pub belonging to Blackpool's smoking ban rebel landlord could be gutted to make way for new flats.
An application has been submitted to turn the Happy Scots Bar and Delboy's Sports Bar into 12 two-bedroom flats and five shop buildings.
Owner Hamish Howitt says the development will have a real "wow" factor and contribute to regeneration in the run-down Foxhall area. He plans to open a new pub elsewhere.
But the controversial licensee, who has been convicted of flouting the smoking ban ever since it came into force on July 1 last year, has pledged to continue his fight against legislation.
Mr Howitt, 55, of Park Road, says even if the application is successfully and his two current bars close, he will still challenge the smoking ban at the European Court of Human Rights.
"It won't stop," he said.
"I couldn't start all this and not go through with it and I'm still going to exhaust all legal processes and try to fight the ban all the way to Strasbourg and the European Court of Human Rights.
"I will open another pub and I'm going to call it Smokies.
"The day my battle against the ban is won, I will never serve another pint again.
"I love Blackpool and I believe these flats and shops will help with the regeneration in the area nearby which will benefit everyone."
The project will, if plans are approved, be funded and overseen by Mr Howitt's mother and father-in-law, Peter and Jo Mountain, who will lease the pub back to the Howitt until he can find another premises.
Mr Howitt still faces a number of outstanding charges relating to his defiance of the smoking ban.
He allows customers to smoke in one bar while the other is totally non-smoking, which Mr Howitt says gives his customers the freedom to choose.
As a non-smoker himself, he maintains his stance is a political one and says he has no issue with the courts but claims his conscience will not allow him to send his customers, many of whom are elderly, outside to smoke.
Last week, an appeal against the closure of his bar by Blackpool Council Licensing committee was upheld by Blackpool Magistrates' Court.
Refused
However, in another hearing, the committee refused an application by Howitt to take over as the pub's designated premises supervisor and put his name above the door to prevent his wife Jo from being charged with breaking the ban.
Mrs Howitt is currently the designated premises supervisor for the smoking bar and will soon appear in court to face a number of charges of failing to prevent smoking in a smoke free premises.
A decision on the plans is expected to be made in July.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/
By Joe Robinson
THE pub belonging to Blackpool's smoking ban rebel landlord could be gutted to make way for new flats.
An application has been submitted to turn the Happy Scots Bar and Delboy's Sports Bar into 12 two-bedroom flats and five shop buildings.
Owner Hamish Howitt says the development will have a real "wow" factor and contribute to regeneration in the run-down Foxhall area. He plans to open a new pub elsewhere.
But the controversial licensee, who has been convicted of flouting the smoking ban ever since it came into force on July 1 last year, has pledged to continue his fight against legislation.
Mr Howitt, 55, of Park Road, says even if the application is successfully and his two current bars close, he will still challenge the smoking ban at the European Court of Human Rights.
"It won't stop," he said.
"I couldn't start all this and not go through with it and I'm still going to exhaust all legal processes and try to fight the ban all the way to Strasbourg and the European Court of Human Rights.
"I will open another pub and I'm going to call it Smokies.
"The day my battle against the ban is won, I will never serve another pint again.
"I love Blackpool and I believe these flats and shops will help with the regeneration in the area nearby which will benefit everyone."
The project will, if plans are approved, be funded and overseen by Mr Howitt's mother and father-in-law, Peter and Jo Mountain, who will lease the pub back to the Howitt until he can find another premises.
Mr Howitt still faces a number of outstanding charges relating to his defiance of the smoking ban.
He allows customers to smoke in one bar while the other is totally non-smoking, which Mr Howitt says gives his customers the freedom to choose.
As a non-smoker himself, he maintains his stance is a political one and says he has no issue with the courts but claims his conscience will not allow him to send his customers, many of whom are elderly, outside to smoke.
Last week, an appeal against the closure of his bar by Blackpool Council Licensing committee was upheld by Blackpool Magistrates' Court.
Refused
However, in another hearing, the committee refused an application by Howitt to take over as the pub's designated premises supervisor and put his name above the door to prevent his wife Jo from being charged with breaking the ban.
Mrs Howitt is currently the designated premises supervisor for the smoking bar and will soon appear in court to face a number of charges of failing to prevent smoking in a smoke free premises.
A decision on the plans is expected to be made in July.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/
Labels: Blackpool, del boys, Hamish Howitt, happy scots bae
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