Hamish Howitt, licensee of the newly-
renamed Happy Scots Bar, on Rigby Road, has set up an anti-smoke ban political party called UK Fags – Fight Against Government Suppression.
And yesterday, with his wife, Jo, and two dogs along for the ride, he took his fight to the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.
With a Ford Transit van plastered with slogans and posters – in much the same way as his drinking establishment – the self-styled Crazy Scot went to lobby ministers and decision-makers despite being a non-smoker himself.
He explained: "I don't smoke, my wife doesn't smoke that much anymore and I wish everyone would quit and cigarettes were eradicated.
"This is not an issue about smoking, it's an issue of the nanny state telling people what they can and can't do and to hell with the consequences for everyone else.
"The pub game is in trouble anyway and Blackpool is not generating the type of cash needed to keep places open so I dread to think what will happen when the smokers are turned away.
"But smokers need to gather somewhere. Apply these measures to any other minority group and there would be uproar.
"I'm the bar owner and the ratepayer and there is no way I will be banning smoking from my place. I will go to jail before I ban smoking."
A blanket ban on smoking in pubs and private clubs in England is set to come in next summer after legislation was approved by the House of Commons.
Fylde health bosses are behind the ban, claiming it will help thousands kick the habit.
But Mr Howitt says he has had massive interest in his party and now he is officially recognised as a political movement, is confident of signing up more members.
He said: "Thanks to all the publicity, I've been contacted by people from as far away as America and Sweden and they are very interested in what I am doing.
"I'm fighting this health fascism because it will also lead to my customers being pushed out into the street to be stared at by passers-by.
"They will feel uncomfortable about coming into my place and that is not something I will stand for."
The Happy Scots, situated just off the Promenade, is covered with 7ft by 3ft protest banners headed The Masterban, Smokers' Rights, Smokescreen and Weapons of Mass Deceit.
The biggest banner, 20ft by 10ft, cost £1,000.