Brighton restaurant boss fined for flouting smoking ban

The manager of a Brighton restaurant has been fined after allowing people to smoke inside his premises.

Ali Cill, 29, who runs Ottoman Cuisine, in Lewes Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop people from smoking inside his restaurant, when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

He was prosecuted last Thursday (17 April) by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Environmental health officers from the council visited the restaurant in January after receiving noise complaints.

While they were there they noticed that people were smoking and that there were ashtrays on the tables which were full of cigarette butts.

Extinguished cigarettes were also found on the floor of the restaurant seating area.

The officers also noticed a woman throwing a lit cigarette in the hot ashes of the cooking area.

Mr Cill told the court: “On that day it was a client’s party and when the officers arrived, people were smoking outside. It was a private party.”

However, he admitted that he was aware of people smoking inside of the restaurant.

Mr Cill was fined £120 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Councillor Pete West, chairman of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “We hope this prosecution sends a strong message to those businesses that are flouting smoke-free legislation.

“In Brighton and Hove we will investigate alleged offences and take robust enforcement action for those businesses that fail to comply with this important public health measure.”