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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."
