Forget Glastonbury, here's Smoke Fest
A Somerset pub is to hold Britain's first tobacco festival.
The Bell in Buckland Dinham, Somerset will hold the festival alongside its first cider festival on June 7.
Licensee and festival organiser Jeremy Westcott said: "I'm an absolute anti-smoker. I couldn't be more of an anti-smoker. I even became a quit smoking councilor with the NHS but I do believe in people's freedoms.
"The customers think it's fantastic. They know I don't smoke, but here I am standing up for them and doing something for them."
Over 100 tobacco products will be available on the day including cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, papers and rolling equipment. A £50 cuban cigar that can burn for five hours will be raffled for charity.
Westcott has even arranged for NHS quit smoking leaflets to be distributed for anyone who wants to use the occasion to quit.
Because the festival is taking place outside it is not illegal.
"I got on to the local council, they said no problem Jeremy, you're licensed to sell them you can do what you like, I told environmental health, they said no problem, can we come?" said Westcott.
Westcott took the decision to hold the event after becoming angered by recent government proposals to remove cigarettes from display in shops and to introduce tougher controls on vending machines in pubs and restaurants.
"I think it's about time somebody did something to draw attention to the silly laws that are going on and on. Sod them all. It has got huge support," he said.
