Humphrey Smith, the owner of Samuel Smith's Brewery, renowned for enforcing strict rules in its 200 pubs—including bans on phones, music, and swearing—has died at the age of 81. He had led the UK's largest independent brewery and pub chain, established in 1758, since the 1980s.
Tributes to a 'titan' of British brewing
The British Pubs Facebook page paid tribute: 'An absolute titan of the British brewing world has passed away. Love him or hate him for his strict rules – banning smartphones, tablets, music, and even swearing – he ran his pubs entirely his own way to preserve the classic, tech-free British Pubs experience. Whether you cherished the peace or found the rules baffling, there is no denying his massive impact on our pub heritage.'
Tadcaster Town Mayor Richard Sweeting said: 'Tadcaster is in mourning. It’s the end of an era. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time. I had a lot of respect for him. He knew me. He was a proper gentleman.'
Eccentric enforcement of rules
Smith's strict approach often made headlines. He once closed The Fox & Goose in Worcestershire after just seven weeks when he overheard a customer swearing. In another incident, The Abbey in Derby closed last year after a handwritten note appeared on the door, stating the owner was unhappy that photos of the pub had been shared online.
An anonymous landlord told The Guardian in 2017: 'He walked into the pubs unannounced – he does this a lot – and found some people swearing. The managers were sacked on the spot. After the sackings, we were told that there would be a nationwide no swearing policy.'
Cyclists were also barred from The Royal Oak in Ulley, near Rotherham, with staff telling them: 'I can’t serve you, we’ve barred bikes.'
Legacy of a private brewer
Samuel Smith's is known for its Yorkshire-made beers sold in its tap houses across the country. Smith, a private figure, cited George Orwell's 1946 essay The Moon Under Water as inspiration for the rules, which describe the ideal quiet pub atmosphere for conversation.
