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!

 

[stubrewworx]

Interesting article.

I think the retiring at 80 rumour has been banded about (in his pubs) for some time. Would a man like that really retire?

When and how the time comes, there's a lot of potential for the brewery, with the right vision and management structure of course.

I like, and love some of the pubs; I just wish dogs were allowed.

The beers are nice and simple too, perhaps one or two 'modern' styles would help when the brand is/if reborn.

I fancy a black n tan now (extra stout & ob) in the Handsom cab (burns hotel), York.

 

[Sneedhearn]

We don't have any Samuel Smith pubs here in NI as far as I'm aware, but I've always enjoyed the ones I've visited in London.

That Guardian piece is fascinating though.

I knew a family many years ago that lost land to a compulsory purchase order for a dual carriagway to be built. They didn't have a huge amount of land but enough for a stable and a few horses on it.

Anyway they ended up with an inaccessible patch of grass at the far side of the new road, the horses and stables gone forever. It hurt the family a lot, like a bereavement, just as the journalist described the impact on villagers when the local pub closes down. That said, my friend's family got over it and moved on with their lives.

As for Mr. Smith, it seems odd to me that a seemingly religious man would harbour such unforgiving bitterness for 50 years and cause such hardship for so many people, merely to make some misguided point about the perceived unfairness of the planning process.

I believe the colloquial phrase is "there's nowt so queer as folk".

 

[JockyBrewer]

He certainly sounds like a man with a small world around him. I don’t think people like that give up control of anything easily.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

Interesting observations. I agree he is probably unlikely to allow major change to the brewery in his lifetime. But if the son could just incrementally soften some of the more insane stuff that would be a start.

On the compulsory purchase of land stuff I understand that can be upsetting for people. But if we didn't have it we would have no major roads or infrastructure and we would all be poorer as a result. Are are you going to allow yourself to become so bitter over it that you spend your life trying to impose some kind of Victorian hell on everyone else?

 

[JockyBrewer]

Interesting observations. I agree he is probably unlikely to allow major change to the brewery in his lifetime. But if the son could just incrementally soften some of the more insane stuff that would be a start.

On the compulsory purchase of land stuff I understand that can be upsetting for people. But if we didn't have it we would have no major roads or infrastructure and we would all be poorer as a result. Are are you going to allow yourself to become so bitter over it that you spend your life trying to impose some kind of Victorian hell on everyone else?

I get the impression that the London pubs aren't subject to the insanity, although it's been a while since I've been in one. I'll have to pop in and see! Would be lovely to get the empty pubs reopened and turn them in to community assets.

Worth also noting that in Tadcaster a few doors away from the period fronted Sam Smiths brewery is the John Smiths/Heinken brewery - the old bit of which is a period building, but then it sprawls off into a bit of an industrial mess. I'm sure Humphrey is not a fan of that 'development' either.

 

[klaus]

Just listened to the podcast ... yep interesting. I have known a few people like that, not as bad as this case though. Normally i'd say "get a life", but for Humphrey it is his life!

 

[LeeH]

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.

I think its a good thing, and the one closest to me has no issues enforcing it. The rules are understood and respected. Not taking card was boring but a few years ago they started accepting card.

Open fires, gas lamp lighting. It's a great boozer.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

I think its a good thing, and the one closest to me has no issues enforcing it. The rules are understood and respected. Not taking card was boring but a few years ago they started accepting card.

Open fires, gas lamp lighting. It's a great boozer.

I just don't get the whole phones thing. It's not as if pubs are full of people who have gone to the pub to sit in silence and look at their phones. But telling people they can't look at their phone, even if they want to check the time of the last bus home or settle an argument about something, just annoys people in general I think. My life is already full of enough rules I must follow at work - I don't want the pub to give me more (within reason obviously). I'm all for traditional pubs. I don't think they are threatened by technology in this way. Meanwhile, my local Sam Smith's pub is clised, which I think suggests there is something wrong with the business model.

 

[JockyBrewer]

When I went to the Princess Louise in Holborn pre Christmas the pub was rammed, I didn’t see any notices dictating behaviour, but everybody in there was there to be social and wasn’t looking at phones.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I just don't get the whole phones thing. It's not as if pubs are full of people who have gone to the pub to sit in silence and look at their phones

I agree but even if they do want to glance at their phone occasionally what harm are they doing they have paid for their beer what has it got to do with the pub owner what they do.

I was in my local this Saturday watching the football with another couple we occasionally looked at scores on our phones and the league tables etc and then discussed what we found on our phones, I wouldn't go in a pub that banned the use of phones for internet and texting but I would be happy if they didn't allow people to make calls people don't seem to realise how loud they are when talking on the phone.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

When I went to the Princess Louise in Holborn pre Christmas the pub was rammed, I didn’t see any notices dictating behaviour, but everybody in there was there to be social and wasn’t looking at phones.

The London pubs are under the control of the son and so have a slightly more modern approach to phones, card payments - and beer prices!!!