This pub came to nationwide media attention in early January 2008. The supposed 'landlord', (it later emerged that the premises traded under his son's alcohol licence) had been publicly flouting the smoking ban that was introduced throughout England in July 2007. He allowed customers to smoke inside his pub, and either took down non-smoking signs or wrote over them with 'Smoking Allowed'. The pub received support from smokers and non-smokers alike from Halifax, Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds. The 'landlord' stated that he received phone calls of support from Germany, Croatia and the USA. He announced in 2008 that he would open another pub in Huddersfield (The College Arms), where he will also allow his customers to smoke. He said he wishes to create a small smoking area, leaving most of the pub a non-smoking venue.