Sam Smiths brewery run 318 .... err, 317 pubs in Britain
... and are the fiefdom of Humphrey Smith, the scion of the Smith brewing dynasty.
I think its fair to say that Mr Smith, who is 74 years old, has some very firm views on how pubs should be run. The pubs stock only the breweries beers and liquors .... which in all fairness, are rather good. They are also very cheap compared with most rival pubs, and so most of them enjoy a loyal band of drinkers and clientèle, who usually in my observation are in an age range not too dissimilar to Mr Smiths.
The reasons for this older client age range, is that one of Mr Smith's polices is that he doesn't have music (since 2004), or TV's in most, if not all of his pubs. Recently, he has added or reinforced a ban on mobile phones, laptops, tablets and any other electronic communication devices in his pubs (popular rumour up North has it that these rules may be slightly less well enforced in the South East ... London - Where one of his sons runs the outlets, but I don't know if that's true or not).
As you might imagine, these polices can cause some problems, especially with the proportion of the population under the age of 50, many of whom can't remember a time when phones weren't carried around by, well, 'everyone' (approximately 95 percent of households in Britain own a mobile phone, a figure which has been constant since 2015). They are also bemused by the idea of silent pubs i.e. no music, no TV's .... just good old fashioned conversation.
He also keeps a firm view on the stock in his pubs, and on New Year's Eve 2011, Mr Smith closed the 'Junction Inn' in Royton, because it was claimed that the landlords were dispensing too much beer in their pints .... There is also a policy to keep certain undesirables from the pubs, and in July 2017, the brewery banned motorcyclists from 'The Royal Oak at Ulley', near Rotherham. Apparently the ban was instituted to keep biking "undesirables" from patronising the establishment.
However, there is one rule that Mr Smith insists upon enforcing, that no one seriously objects to, which is no swearing in his pubs. Its this that has got Mr Smith in the news again (he was in the news last year when the mobile devices ban came in to force), after he walked in to 'The Fox & Goose' in Doitwich, Worcestershire, on the 6th of October 2019, and overheard a customer use a swearword whilst telling a joke .... the landlord and landlady apparently took no action. The next morning, Mr Smith returned and closed the pub down, apparently emptying the tills, stock, etc, and boarding the pub up.
The pub had just undergone an extensive refurbishment, and had reopened just a few months ago ..... the landlord and landlady were immediately unemployed, and also homeless (they lived in the flat above the pub). Some of the locals interviewed were sympathetic to their position, and one said ‘No one can quite believe the pub’s been shut. It’s a bit daft really because a pub’s where you go to let off steam and enjoy a bit of banter with other people. A ban on swearing is a bit much.’ .... personally, I am not happy in pubs where swearing is tolerated, it coarsens the atmosphere, and frankly is the start of a slippery slope in the pubs I have observed (45 years in pubs and counting), so I am with Humphrey on this one.
As usual, he failed to respond to press enquiries for a comment, as he apparently considers it to be solely his own business what he does with his pubs, and not a matter for public discussion.... Mr Smith, agree with him or not, is a man who sticks to his principles, and his word is law in his empire ... those who ignore it, customer or staff, do so at their peril.
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| Sam Smiths Pub Chain Run By Humphrey Smith |
... and are the fiefdom of Humphrey Smith, the scion of the Smith brewing dynasty.
I think its fair to say that Mr Smith, who is 74 years old, has some very firm views on how pubs should be run. The pubs stock only the breweries beers and liquors .... which in all fairness, are rather good. They are also very cheap compared with most rival pubs, and so most of them enjoy a loyal band of drinkers and clientèle, who usually in my observation are in an age range not too dissimilar to Mr Smiths.
The reasons for this older client age range, is that one of Mr Smith's polices is that he doesn't have music (since 2004), or TV's in most, if not all of his pubs. Recently, he has added or reinforced a ban on mobile phones, laptops, tablets and any other electronic communication devices in his pubs (popular rumour up North has it that these rules may be slightly less well enforced in the South East ... London - Where one of his sons runs the outlets, but I don't know if that's true or not).
As you might imagine, these polices can cause some problems, especially with the proportion of the population under the age of 50, many of whom can't remember a time when phones weren't carried around by, well, 'everyone' (approximately 95 percent of households in Britain own a mobile phone, a figure which has been constant since 2015). They are also bemused by the idea of silent pubs i.e. no music, no TV's .... just good old fashioned conversation.
He also keeps a firm view on the stock in his pubs, and on New Year's Eve 2011, Mr Smith closed the 'Junction Inn' in Royton, because it was claimed that the landlords were dispensing too much beer in their pints .... There is also a policy to keep certain undesirables from the pubs, and in July 2017, the brewery banned motorcyclists from 'The Royal Oak at Ulley', near Rotherham. Apparently the ban was instituted to keep biking "undesirables" from patronising the establishment.
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| No Effin' And No Jeffin' ..... |
However, there is one rule that Mr Smith insists upon enforcing, that no one seriously objects to, which is no swearing in his pubs. Its this that has got Mr Smith in the news again (he was in the news last year when the mobile devices ban came in to force), after he walked in to 'The Fox & Goose' in Doitwich, Worcestershire, on the 6th of October 2019, and overheard a customer use a swearword whilst telling a joke .... the landlord and landlady apparently took no action. The next morning, Mr Smith returned and closed the pub down, apparently emptying the tills, stock, etc, and boarding the pub up.
The pub had just undergone an extensive refurbishment, and had reopened just a few months ago ..... the landlord and landlady were immediately unemployed, and also homeless (they lived in the flat above the pub). Some of the locals interviewed were sympathetic to their position, and one said ‘No one can quite believe the pub’s been shut. It’s a bit daft really because a pub’s where you go to let off steam and enjoy a bit of banter with other people. A ban on swearing is a bit much.’ .... personally, I am not happy in pubs where swearing is tolerated, it coarsens the atmosphere, and frankly is the start of a slippery slope in the pubs I have observed (45 years in pubs and counting), so I am with Humphrey on this one.
As usual, he failed to respond to press enquiries for a comment, as he apparently considers it to be solely his own business what he does with his pubs, and not a matter for public discussion.... Mr Smith, agree with him or not, is a man who sticks to his principles, and his word is law in his empire ... those who ignore it, customer or staff, do so at their peril.
There is a market for pubs without mindless noise or endless horse racing as Sam Smith's brewery have shown.
ReplyDeleteFair comment. It is his business to run as he wants, and he has, as you have said, got a market, but it can be a somewhat idiosyncratic way of finding that market. I was simply observing that fact. Thanks for the comment, always appreciated.
DeleteAs illustrated in my later posts on the chain, Sam Smiths pubs have lurched in to further Mr Smithian strangeness, with bans on Dogs and Children, as well a large price rise after the first Covid lockdown.
ReplyDeleteOn my occasional visits (I go to another more welcoming pub now), some of his pubs are often very nearly empty in the day and late evenings, so its hard to defend his practises as being good business decisions.
The local Sam Smiths suddenly started accepting card payments last week AND the biggest change, phones are allowed.
ReplyDeleteI was told that people can't stream videos on their phones with sound, but that was the only restriction which won't be enforceable really. They didn't know why this sudden change in two key policies but you have to bet that it wasn't Humphrey's idea.
I haven't been in my local Smiths pub for some time. However agent 'H', I will be passing one tonight, and will check it out. If its across the board, then its welcome news, but its going to take some time for it to turn trade around ... especially as its not exactly being advertised. Thanks for the update George, which I note has so pleased you, that its on another post as well.
DeleteSome of the northern pubs have been handed over to the son Sam to run. Apparently these are the non listed pubs i.e the newer pubs that were losing money under Humphrey Smith's regime. These have abandoned all his rules and have TV's etc and have started attracting some trade apparently.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this leaves him making even more ridiculous rules for the older pubs that he now has more time to spend more time destroying, such as the lastest one issued on Tuesday which says that no one can stand at the bar now. It's almost impossible to understand the thinking behind all the nonsense that comes out of Smith seniors mouth but he's all but ruined the brand in the North of England
I agree that it all seems very strange .... just driving customers away seems to be a counter productive business model. However it does prove that being very rich can divorce you from the reality of your decisions. Its probable the Smith senior simply makes no connection between his rules and the drop in customers in his pubs.
DeleteA YouTube video by a comedian Joe Lycett takes the mickey out of Humphrey Smith and clan ..... the comments are revealing as well:
ReplyDeleteRebecca H
A few stories to add about Humphrey and his family:
1. Someone had done a barn conversion and spent £300k to do it up nicely. Humphrey bought the barn conversion and ripped out everything and turned it back into a barn.
2. His wife went to the charity shop in Tadcaster saw a pair of wellies and insisted she only wanted to buy one boot out of th pair and only wanted pay half price.
3. Humphrey was obsessed with the idea the guy taking parking fees at his car park was skimming. So to help prove his point he camped out all night sleeping on a bench hoping to catch him... he's a millionaire!
Thanks for the comment .... its obvious that Mr Smith is a very divisive character to very many people. I have decided that I will not allow further comments on Mr Smith's idiosyncratic decisions and behaviours, unless there is substantive change such as Mr Smith losing any control over the pubs for any reason ... as its obvious that his current pattern will not change for any other reason.
Delete