A REBEL would-be landlord who pledged to let smokers light up in a Huddersfield pub is to be hauled into court.

And the boozer at the centre of the controversy, the College Arms in Queensgate, has been boarded up and had the locks changed.

Kirklees Council, backed by West Yorkshire Police, yesterday issued a summons against Stuart Smith for allowing people to light up and failing to display ‘no smoking’ signs.

The summons – pinned to the door because Mr Smith was not there – ordered him to attend Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 28.

Steve Noble, assistant director for environmental services at Kirklees Council, said: “We want to give a clear message that we will not have mavericks breaking the law.

“It is irresponsible, unacceptable, as well as being illegal.”

Mr Smith, 39, had attracted a flood of media attention last week when he publicised the fact he was allowing people to smoke at the Golden Fleece pub in Greetland, which he was running at the time.

He boasted he would do the same when he opened the College Arms on Wednesday.

As reported in yesterday’s Examiner, a representative from Admiral Taverns, which owns both pubs, went to the College Arms with police and council officials on Wednesday night to try to have him evicted.

The company said he did not own the licence for the pub and accused him of trespassing.

But Mr Smith said his son, who was the temporary licence-holder, had given him permission to be there.

After an hour-long stand-off, the officials left and Mr Smith continued what he called a “private party.” He pledged punters would be allowed to smoke inside as long as he was in charge.

But Mr Noble said yesterday: “This sort of defiance will not be tolerated.

“Other publicans who have seen the publicity should be warned – do not even think of following suit otherwise you, and your customers, will be hit very heavily in your pockets.

“The council has the responsibility to enforce this Government legislation and we will take firm action.”

Insp David Glover from Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, branded the episode a “stunt.”

Mr Smith said he now planned to open another smoking pub in Huddersfield – but would go to court on January 28 to answer the summons. He added: “I have said all along that I will follow this through to the end because I believe in what I’m doing.

“I believe people should have freedom of choice and I will leave it up to the discretion of the court to decide what to do.”

A spokeswoman for Admiral Taverns said: “We can confirm that Stuart Smith is not, and never has been, the licensee of the Golden Fleece or College Arms pub.

“We can also confirm that Luke Smith no longer has any licensing agreement in place with Admiral Taverns.

“As a responsible operator of quality pubs, we fully support the smoking ban and provide our landlords with all possible support.

“As for Stuart Smith, he has been removed from the College Arms and we can confirm that the Golden Fleece and College Arms have now been closed to avoid further problems.’’

She added: “We will be looking for a new landlord to run the College Arms and would ask that anyone interested call us on 

01923  726367 or visit www.admiraltaverns.com.”