Latest news with #HumphreySmith
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Britain's ‘cheapest pub' suddenly SHUTS after 500 years because owner ‘unhappy about photos of it being shared online'
SHUTTERS DOWN Britain's 'cheapest pub' suddenly SHUTS after 500 years because owner 'unhappy about photos of it being shared online' A PUB dubbed the "cheapest" in Britain has suddenly shut up shop after 500 years. Locals have been left shocked after the owners revealed a bizarre reason with a notice on the door. 3 The Abbey, Derby, posted the handwritten note on the door saying they were unhappy about photos of it being shared online. Credit: Google maps 3 The brewery operates 200 pubs across the UK and is known for it's strict rules from owner Humphrey Smith Credit: Google maps The Abbey, Derby, posted the handwritten note on the door saying they were unhappy about photos of it being shared online. The 22-word notice reads: "Closed!! "Due to someone posting pictures of the Abbey on social media. Sam Smith has taken the alcohol and closed these premises." Samuel Smith's Brewery owns the pub and it has been suggested the current landlords had broken policies and were dismissed as a result. The brewery operates 200 pubs across the UK and is known for it's strict rules from owner Humphrey Smith. Such rules include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public houses. Just days prior to the closure, a Facebook account with more than 125,000 followers posted 18 pictures of the pub, inside and out. The Great British Pub Crawl account, a page run by Dale Harvey and his wife, Holly, follows the couple as they attempt to visit every boozer in the UK. They posted the photos on Saturday, May 17 alongside the caption: "Not every day you are asked to grab photos or a video in a Sam Smith's pub." It's not clear whether the post was the reason behind the closure. The pub is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery, dating back to the 15th century. The sudden closure has left locals stunned, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and confusion. While the brewery has offered no official explanation, insiders suggest the landlords were dismissed for allowing, or failing to prevent, photos of the pub being shared online, a clear breach of company policy. The closure marks yet another abrupt ending for a Samuel Smith's venue, following similar shutdowns in Bradford and London, and raises fresh questions about the brewery's management style and the long-term viability of its rule-heavy model in the digital age. The Abbey is far from the only British boozer pulling its last pint. A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point. In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service. Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens. Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become 'unsustainable'. 'It was hugely popular, but we just couldn't keep going,' Nick said. 'The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn't add up anymore.' Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening. Dubbed a 'labour of love' by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike. But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as 'emotional, financial and operational strain'. In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers: 'The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.' Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: 'It was more like home to us. Watching India win the World Cup there was unforgettable.' And even award-winners haven't been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region's best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success. The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Brewery shuts down historic 15th Century pub 'because patrons were taking photos inside'
It's one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery and has served the Derbyshire community for hundreds of years in various guises. But The Abbey pub in Darley Abbey, which dates back to the 15th century, appears to have been abruptly closed for good - because of social media posts. A handwritten note on the door of the building, once part of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary, said the owner was unhappy about photos of it being shared online. Samuel Smith's Brewery, which owns the pub, allegedly told the current landlords that they had broken company policies and were immediately dismissed. The chain, which operates about 200 pubs in the UK, is known for its colourful owner Humphrey Smith's strict rules such as no-swearing, televisions or mobile phones. The Abbey pub had a sign inside saying: 'We are a digital detox pub. Use of mobiles, laptops and other devices is not allowed. Beer and conversation encouraged.' The pub had only reopened last September having been shut since 2019 following a campaign led by a group including Derby City Council councillor Martin Repton. But a 22-word written notice was stuck onto the pub's front door with tape on Wednesday, saying: 'Closed!! Due to someone posting pictures of The Abbey on social media. Sam Smith has taken the alcohol and closed these premises.' On Saturday, just days before it closed, popular Facebook account The Great British Pub Crawl, which has more than 125,000 followers, posted 18 pictures of the pub, saying: 'Not every day you are asked to grab photos or a video in a Sam Smith's pub.' The page follows Dale and Holly Harvey as they attempt to visit every pub in the UK, but they denied being responsible for the closure – saying they were in fact asked to take the photos because the operators already knew it was about to be shut. They added that they do not take photos in other Samuel Smith venues and would not have taken pictures in The Abbey if they had been not been asked to. They also pointed to previous Facebook posts from other accounts in recent months as being the more likely culprits. This included one from a visitor called Dennis Hayes in March which said: 'In The Abbey - got a red card for taking a picture of the 'digital detox pub' poster. (no swearing, no music and no dogs as well).' The pub, built in the 1400s, is one of the last remaining parts of the Darley Abbey monastery complex and is thought to have been the lodgings for the Abbot. The wider abbey complex originally dates back to 1160 before it was developed over the following centuries, but ceased to exist in 1538 after the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII. After the dissolution, the village was developed by mill owners called the Evans, who put covenants on all their land preventing the sale of alcohol. However, they did not buy the small piece of land containing what is now the pub, which was initially owned by a local archaeological society before being bought and converted into its present-day use. Then, Councillor Mr Repton wrote on Facebook yesterday: 'As from today the Abbey Pub that thousands fought a five-year battle to get reopened will no longer be open for business. 'The brewery struggled for five years to find anyone to manage the pub on their behalf. I and a local businessman wrote to the brewery offering to go to Tadcaster to meet up to discuss them possibly selling the pub or leasing it. 'They declined our offers and instead the pub reopened after a five-year-gap on September 26 last year, and hopes were high that this historic 900-year-old building would continue to serve the local community as it had done for many centuries. 'I was only in there last night having a pint so to wake up this morning to hear such bad news is devastating. All the brewery have said so far is that the managers did not follow company policies which the couple deny emphatically. 'Rumour has it that the brewery may have closed many pubs in recent months. The campaign to get The Abbey pub reopened now starts again.' Other Samuel Smith pubs have also suddenly closed in recent months – including the Shoulder of Mutton in Bradford last September; The Harewood Arms in Leeds last November and Ye Olde Swiss Cottage in North West London in February. Writing about his memories of The Abbey, Derby Telegraph content editor George Allen said: 'It was always an odd atmosphere. 'You had to remember not to swear and, if your phone pinged in your pocket, you had to ignore your instincts and perhaps only check it subtly when you went to the loo. 'I wasn't so worried about being kicked out of the pub. We could always nip across the road. What really did concern me was the livelihood of the tenants. 'Because my mild embarrassment would be nothing compared to the chances of notorious Samuel Smith brewery owner Humphrey Smith catching sight of the indiscretion, berating the tenants and closing down their pub in a second. 'And, to nobody's surprise, that is pretty much what happened this week.' It comes after MailOnline revealed last September that Samuel Smith boss Humphrey Smith planned to retire when he turned 80 in December 2024. Letters were posted to pub managers outlining the businessman's intention to call last orders on his 40-year chairmanship of the multi-million pound brewing dynasty. It is not currently clear who is now running the pub - with Mr Smith still listed as on Companies House as a director of the business, which was founded in 1758. MailOnline has contacted Samuel Smith, Mr Harvey and Mr Hayes for comment.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Locals shocked by village pub's sudden closure
A pub in Derby has abruptly closed with a handwritten note placed on the door saying the brewery owner was unhappy about photos of it being shared online. The Abbey, in Darley Abbey, dates back to the 15th Century and is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery. Multiple sources told the BBC the current landlords were informed by Samuel Smith's Brewery, which owns the pub, they had broken policies and were dismissed with immediate effect. The brewery has refused to comment on the closure. Samuel Smith's operates about 200 pubs across the UK and is famous for its strict rules laid down by owner Humphrey Smith. These include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public houses. The Abbey's closure comes after another pub owned by the brewery in Bradford shut unexpectedly in September 2024. The brewery also shut down another historic pub in north-west London in February. Martin Repton, a councillor at Derby City Council, posted on Facebook: "All the brewery have said so far is that the managers did not follow company policies, which the couple deny emphatically." "We're all really sad and sorry for the landlords, who have now lost their home and livelihood." The Abbey had been closed for five years before re-opening in September 2024. Repton, who was part of the campaign to get it reopened, told the BBC the fresh closure had come as a shock to the local community. "I went in for a quick pint on Tuesday and everything seemed to be OK, although I know that the landlords have come under a certain amount of pressure in recent months," he said. "I was rung and told the pub was to close immediately. "People are absolutely appalled and shocked by the immediate closure. "We were starting to build up the trade again. It's a good pub with great atmosphere, in the village centre. "It's an important and integral part of the village and village life." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Samuel Smith's pub in city centre closes suddenly 17th Century pub reopens as 'something different' Historic Ye Olde Swiss Cottage pub calls time
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Locals shocked by village pub's sudden closure
A pub in Derby has abruptly closed with a handwritten note placed on the door saying the brewery owner was unhappy about photos of it being shared online. The Abbey, in Darley Abbey, dates back to the 15th Century and is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery. Multiple sources told the BBC the current landlords were informed by Samuel Smith's Brewery, which owns the pub, they had broken policies and were dismissed with immediate effect. The brewery has refused to comment on the closure. Samuel Smith's operates about 200 pubs across the UK and is famous for its strict rules laid down by owner Humphrey Smith. These include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public houses. The Abbey's closure comes after another pub owned by the brewery in Bradford shut unexpectedly in September 2024. The brewery also shut down another historic pub in north-west London in February. Martin Repton, a councillor at Derby City Council, posted on Facebook: "All the brewery have said so far is that the managers did not follow company policies, which the couple deny emphatically." "We're all really sad and sorry for the landlords, who have now lost their home and livelihood." The Abbey had been closed for five years before re-opening in September 2024. Repton, who was part of the campaign to get it reopened, told the BBC the fresh closure had come as a shock to the local community. "I went in for a quick pint on Tuesday and everything seemed to be OK, although I know that the landlords have come under a certain amount of pressure in recent months," he said. "I was rung and told the pub was to close immediately. "People are absolutely appalled and shocked by the immediate closure. "We were starting to build up the trade again. It's a good pub with great atmosphere, in the village centre. "It's an important and integral part of the village and village life." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Samuel Smith's pub in city centre closes suddenly 17th Century pub reopens as 'something different' Historic Ye Olde Swiss Cottage pub calls time
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Locals shocked by pub's sudden closure
A pub in Derby has abruptly closed with a handwritten note placed on the door saying the brewery owner was unhappy about photos of it being shared Abbey, in Darley Abbey, dates back to the 15th Century and is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive sources told the BBC the current landlords were informed by Samuel Smith's Brewery, which owns the pub, they had broken policies and were dismissed with immediate effect. The brewery has refused to comment on the closure. Samuel Smith's operates about 200 pubs across the UK and is famous for its strict rules laid down by owner Humphrey include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public Abbey's closure comes after another pub owned by the brewery in Bradford shut unexpectedly in September brewery also shut down another historic pub in north-west London in Repton, a councillor at Derby City Council, posted on Facebook: "All the brewery have said so far is that the managers did not follow company policies, which the couple deny emphatically.""We're all really sad and sorry for the landlords, who have now lost their home and livelihood." The Abbey had been closed for five years before re-opening in September who was part of the campaign to get it reopened, told the BBC the fresh closure had come as a shock to the local community."I went in for a quick pint on Tuesday and everything seemed to be OK, although I know that the landlords have come under a certain amount of pressure in recent months," he said."I was rung and told the pub was to close immediately."People are absolutely appalled and shocked by the immediate closure."We were starting to build up the trade again. It's a good pub with great atmosphere, in the village centre."It's an important and integral part of the village and village life."
