Posted on 01/10/2020 7:37:48 AM PST by NRx
...This goes to show that Samuel Smith pubs are quite different to most drinking establishments: mobile phones, laptops, tablets, even Kindles are banned; payment in many pubs is by cash only; and the look and feel of the establishments is, in the words of its own website, “uncompromisingly Victorian”. And all this is down to one man, the reclusive Humphrey Smith, owner of the chain.
...More recently, in 2017, Smith banned swearing in his pubs. Last October he was said to have closed another establishment, The Fox and Goose in Worcestershire, after overhearing a customer swearing while carrying out one of his many unannounced visits.
Then in March last year managers of the company’s 200 or so pubs were told that the customers’ use of mobile phones was banned so as to encourage “social conversation”.
...And yet, are these draconian policies bad for business? It seems not. Whatever the publicity that follows Samuel Smith and its boss, there is no denying that this is a successful company, with a range of traditional beers (you won’t find a mango milkshake IPA at the bar, for instance). There are over 20 pubs in London, many of which are architectural gems, such as The Cheshire Cheese and the Princess Louise.
Samuel Smith Old Brewery was founded in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, in 1758 and has been in the same family since the 19th century. Many of its pubs are in northern England, with others in the East Midlands, London and Bristol and Gloucester. They are noted for their old-fashioned decor, with original snob screens, booths and ornate wooden bar backs, retained and preserved wherever possible.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
This is an example of creating an elite product or service and how sorely missed such things are.
We’re constantly told that casual is in for example.
But everyone I know likes a formal event, where people dress nicely. That was destroyed when establishments for the sake of market share/fear of offending, allowed dress codes etc to get dumbed down to the point of being a joke.
I was a member of a very old and exclusive country club, then they went to jeans in the bar/restaurant. I can go to Denny’s for that.... My wife and I had our Honeymoon at Harrison Hot Springs in BC Canada, and went back a couple of times. They had a music and dining experience that went back many decades. It had been black tie only, then formal, then whatever you feel like. When it went to the latter, we quit going.
BUMP!
I agree.
I know a local tavern where 2/3 of their Yelp! reviews are complaints about the owner’s swearing.
We made our first trip to the UK this past September. Cornwall, to be exact. We were a bit lost as to closing times for restaurants, and when we got home, someone told us we should have tried pubs. Felt a bit silly not to have thought of that.
The best thing we can do is lead by example and dress up. Especially, on religious holidays.
Pubs even close at 11:00pm. It’s almost a third-world country. Even more so in the last 30 years.
One of my very favorite brews is Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter. I don’t drink often, but when I do, I want to drink something I have to chew! :-)
I’m being series now, their ales are great, but that porter is absolutely my very favorite.
Mark
Pubs even close at 11:00.
Yes. I’s called ‘chucking out time’ and people are much more aware of other drivers at this time.
Sounds great!
Patrons actually interacting, civilly. How old school! I do miss that, especially at airport bars.
At a bar recently, I monitored the times a younger guy used the f*** noun/pronoun/adjective/verb/adverb/conjunction/preposition/article/interjection and it was around every 15 seconds. So disappointing.
My wife and I hang out with a number of other couples. We don’t go out, we have house parties and people dress up, we make our own food, dance, kids, everything. I just realized how much fun this is, and no money is wasted on lame establishments.
I am a fan of their Oatmeal Stout. They also have a fantastic seasonal beer called Winter Welcome. I might have to pick up some tonight on the way home.
It sounds nice. Often I’m just glad to find restaurants/bars which don’t have TVs on every wall.
Instead of going to a pub and getting drunk they should seek out the nearest Fellowship Hall.
"snob screens"?! For keeping snobs in or out?
A snob screen was a series of glass panes that divided a pub, allowing the middle class drinkers to see working class drinkers but not be seen by the working class.
Very Victorian.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snob_screen
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