Pasha Cafe and Shisha Lounge owners must pay out 4,500 after allowing smoking inside

Environmental Health officers attended Pasha Cafe and Shisha Lounge in Edderthorpe Street, off Leeds Road, Bradford, on January 13, February 1 and June 4 this year after reports of smoke in an enclosed place.

Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court was told yesterday how officers had been in extensive talks with the owners before November 2015 and at that time adaptations were made to the premises so that half of it was open, meaning shisha smoking could take place.

But earlier this year when environmental officers returned after receiving complaints, they discovered the lounge had been adapted again and was fully enclosed by a new roof.

Harjit Ryatt, prosecuting solicitor for Bradford Council, said: “When the managing director was spoken to he confirmed it had been covered up and explained it was because it was winter, the customers were getting quite chilly and the rain was getting in.”

No one from Pasha was in court to face the three charges of failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free premises, but the hearing proceeded after magistrates found the council’s case proved.

Pasha was fined £1,000 for each charge plus £1,375 in costs and a surcharge which totalled £4,375 to be paid in 14 days.

Shisha lounges, where flavoured tobacco is smoked through pipes, are not illegal, but they must comply with the smoking ban, meaning at least half of the building must be permanently open.

After the case, Councillor Val Slater, the council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, said the local authority wouldn’t hesitate to prosecute those who encouraged a practice detrimental to the health of people in a premises.

"The legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces was introduced to help reduce the number of ill-health cases, including lung cancer, attributed to inhaling tobacco smoke.

"Shisha smoking is as dangerous as cigarette smoking and the law classes shisha and cigarette smoking as the same."