Landlady fined for allowing smoking in pub

Jan 3 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Although the landlady was upstairs at the time, Mr Bell said it was her responsibility to ensure the law was upheld.

Mrs Wigglesworth, 48, who defended herself, told the court she could not be at the bar 24/7.

She later said that it was difficult to enforce, with her husband Derek adding that customers often forgot about the ban after a few drinks.

Her conviction comes months after Stuart Smith, of Newlands Farm, Halifax, appeared before Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court.

Early last year he publicised the fact he was allowing people to smoke at the Golden Fleece pub in Greetland, which he was running at the time, and said he would also allow smoking at Huddersfield’s The College Arms.

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

Smith is now involved with the Scape House at Scapegoat Hill.

He says he has no intention of letting punters smoke in this pub.

Last month he even claimed he has given up his own 100-a-day habit and is planning to build “the mother of all smoking shelters” to help customers stay within the law.