Sam Smith's Brewery

[Bitter_Dave]

Interesting article about Humphrey Smith, oddball owner of the Sam Smith brewery:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/20...beer-baron-built-britains-strangest-pub-chain

I've got a bit of a soft spot for Sam Smith's. The beer is nice, is cheap, and I'm a sucker for these historical breweries. He seems to be on the verge of retirement and it would be nice if some of the pubs could reopen and be spared from the ridiculous Victorian rules (not being allowed to look at your phone, for example). The nearest one to me was nice the one tine I managed to go to it, but was closed the last time I went past. Did not realise it was part of wider trend.

 

[Clint]

Ha the phone thing. There must be one in Chester as last Christmas we was out making merry and some lads I was with were told to put their phones away! Like they did...NOT.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

The phone thing is just ludicrous. It really can't be easy to run one of their pubs and to have to enforce such nonsense. Sounds like they have treated the pub staff very shabbily too.

 

[Stu]

That's a proper interesting article.

For some of it, particularly the last few paragraphs, I can understand why he is like he is.

But people shouldn't be allowed to have such control in planning. 13,000 objections to planning and the millions of pounds he's cost the council who are just trying to do their job. That kind of thing should not be allowed.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

Totally agree with you re. planning.

Clearly a troubled man who seems to think we live (or should live) in the Victorian age. With employment practices from that era too!