Humphrey Smith, Longtime Head of Samuel Smith Brewery, Passes Away at 81
Humphrey Smith, who managed the Samuel Smith's brewing and pub enterprise for several decades, has died at the age of 81, according to official confirmation.
The Samuel Smith Old Brewery, established by Smith's family in 1758, has been under his leadership since the 1980s. The company operates approximately 200 pubs across the United Kingdom.
Based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, the brewery gained recognition among patrons for its distinctive policies, including prohibitions on mobile phones, music, televisions, and swearing within its establishments.
Tadcaster's mayor, Richard Sweeting, described Smith as a "true gentleman" and a "man of principle," noting his reserved nature.
"He hadn't been well for a little while but Mr Smith was a private man and it was kept quiet.
"But it always is a shock when something actually happens and Tadcaster is in mourning."
The brewery has maintained traditional practices such as delivering beer to some local pubs by horse-drawn cart.
Mayor Sweeting mentioned that the flag at the town centre brewery was lowered to half-mast in tribute to Smith.
"The one thing people are saying is that it is the end of an era and it's true because you often saw him walking through the town,"
"I've known him all my life and he's a respected person. He's a true gentleman and he had Tadcaster at heart.
"He's done many things in Tadcaster unseen that people don't know about.
"There's a lot of amenities in Tadcaster that, if it wasn't for Mr Smith and the brewery, we wouldn't have. We've got a lot to thank him for."
'A Man of Principle'
Samuel Smith Old Brewery, the smallest of the three breweries located in Tadcaster, operates as an unlimited company, which allows it to maintain financial privacy.
Upon assuming the role of chairman, Smith implemented several changes, including converting tenants into managers directly employed by the brewery. This structure enabled the company to enforce its well-known policies, which its website describes as creating "havens from the digital world."
Mayor Sweeting remarked on Smith's standards and principles.
"Mr Smith had his standards, Mr Smith had his reasons and a lot of people understood.
"Mr Smith was also a man of principle and there would have been a reason for regulations in the pubs.
"A lot of people were quite happy for those regulations because we respected him."
Several reports over the years have noted the sudden dismissal of managers, often due to alleged violations of the brewery's rules.
Additionally, some of the brewery's pubs have closed abruptly, sometimes remaining vacant for extended periods.
In 2023, The Abbey, a Samuel Smith pub in Derby, closed unexpectedly with a handwritten note on the door stating that the brewery owner was displeased about photographs of the pub being shared online.
Multiple sources informed the BBC that landlords were notified by the brewery of policy breaches and were dismissed immediately.
In 2024, The Shoulder of Mutton in central Bradford also closed without prior notice, with the brewery declining to disclose the reasons.
Kate Ahern, secretary of Bradford's CAMRA branch, commented that the closure was part of a "pattern" of unexplained losses of Samuel Smith's licensed premises.
Samuel Smith Old Brewery attracted attention again when motorcyclists were barred from The Royal Oak at Ulley, near Rotherham. Patrons were met by staff in the car park and informed, "I can't serve you, we've barred bikes."
In December 2015, the bridge over the River Wharfe collapsed due to flooding in the area.
As a significant landowner in Tadcaster, the brewery refused permission for the construction of a temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe in 2016 on land it owned. The town's 18th-century bridge had been severely damaged by floods in 2015, and while repairs were underway, the town was divided with a lengthy detour.
The brewery described the £300,000 cost of the temporary bridge as a "waste of public money," though it later indicated it would consider allowing the bridge if consulted about the main bridge's repairs.
Ultimately, plans were altered, and the temporary bridge was constructed on council-owned land.
Smith also frequently opposed various planning applications in North Yorkshire.
A spokesperson for York CAMRA stated:
"The newspaper headlines may well say that Humphrey was a controversial and divisive figure with many quirks - but we'd do well not to forget that he presided over a family brewery that produces exceptional real ale and craft keg beers at very affordable prices and an estate of pubs that provide a huge social impact within their communities.
"He leaves his son Samuel both a legacy on which to build but also a huge challenge in reopening many of their pubs that are currently closed and bringing some of their more arcane operational rules back into into the 21st Century!"
The brewery has not yet issued an official statement regarding Smith's passing.
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