I'm surprised at that - I thought Sam Smiths was still a family business. I remember touring it in the 90s and thinking it was a great family owned business :?
I guess that's the only way for pubs to survive what with 1 pub a day closing. They need every penny they can get. But the problem is the breweries not the publicans.
Blatant rip off UK - nothing changes. Garden shed pubs, real home brewed beers, smoking rooms - the way forward. Except here of course where i can do all the above 80% of the time outside on me roof!! :