Sam Smith Brewery owner well-known for his ‘traditional’ policies dies at age of 81
His bans on smartphones, children, dogs and swearing divided opinion across the brewery’s 300-pub estate, which was often left half-empty, reports said.
- Humphrey Smith, the reclusive and eccentric owner of the Tadcaster-based Samuel Smith's Brewery, has died at 81. Tributes began pouring in on Tuesday for the chairman, who oversaw the family-owned business since taking control in 1963.
- Smith was famously traditional, banning smartphones, music, and TVs across his 200 pubs to create "havens from the digital world." His strict policies, including swearing prohibitions, attracted both fierce criticism and devoted support from beer drinkers.
- The brewery maintains the world's largest team of grey Shire horses, delivering beer to local pubs five days a week in Tadcaster. Tadcaster Mayor Richard Sweeting called Smith a "proper, proper gentleman" who cared deeply for the town.
- Industry peers called Smith an "absolute titan" of the British brewing world, despite his divisive reputation. York Campaign for Real Ale noted he produced exceptional real ale at affordable prices across his family brewery.
- Tim Spakouskas, managing director of Yorkshire Heart Brewery, expressed hope that Smith's son Samuel will carry on family traditions while potentially "slacken some of the rules" in the pubs. The transition signals both continuity and possible modernization ahead.
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13 Articles
Eccentric pub owner of franchise with 'no swearing' rule dies aged 81
Humphrey Smith is known for the strict rules he imposed in his boozers (Picture: SWNS) The owner of Samuel Smith’s Brewery, known for its infamous strict rules, has died at the age of 81. Humphrey Smith sat at the helm of the UK’s largest independent brewery and pub chain – established in 1758 – since the 1980s. Mr Smith is perhaps best-known for upholding strict policies banning phones, music, and swearing in Samuel Smith’s 200 pubs. In a tribu…
CAMRA's tribute to controversial Samuel Smith’s Brewery owner in Tadcaster who has passed at age of 81
A true titan of brewing who ran Samuel Smith's brewing business based in Tadcaster in a successful if controversial fashion for almost half a century has died at the age of 81 with a tribute from CAMRA.
Doncaster Free Press
South Yorkshire TimesDoncaster pub bosses pay tribute to "charming" brewery owner known for strict rules
The ‘traditonal’ brewery boss was known for implementing rules which included no music, TVs, phones, laptops and swearing in his pubs.
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