Guy Edwards, F1 and Group C sportscar racing driver. One of the group of drivers who helped pull Niki Lauda from the burning wreck of his car at the Nurburgring. RIP.
The Good Life actress Dame Penelope Keith dies aged 86 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ey1pjx0z9o
I think I understand your reasoning Nasher, and to some extent agree, but this bit puts me off: Samuel Smith Old Brewery caused a stir once again, when bikers were barred from The Royal Oak at Ulley, near Rotherham. Punters were greeted by a member of staff in the car park and told, 'I can't serve you, we've barred bikes'.
Yep, maybe that bits not so good for the likes of us, but he must have had a reason. What I like about what I've read is that he made his mind up and stuck to his principles, to be honest that is enough for me to like him even if I don't agree with all the decisions.
Agree with the second paragraph Nasher; but I’m not entirely sure that there was always a reason; however if there was, surely it should be explained to the banned party to give them an opportunity to change the behaviour?
I live 10 mile away from Tadcaster and know a lot of people that live there. I’m not sure many would agree with you. Sticking to your principles is one thing. Humphrey was often guilty of going a number of stages further than that. Here’s one particular example: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/battle-of-tadcaster-bridge-leaves-bitter-taste-1806112 I won’t touch on his apparent tenant selection policy for his numerous rental properties.
I read a few of the articles on the guy and can respect he is entitled to make his own choices. If I were as clever as him, i might have made some of the same ones. But there's a fair few that weren't so great; his obstructive role in the bridge fiasco -which was not great for the locals of Tadcaster- led to a wide spread boycott of his pubs. Currently 50% of his pubs are closed and sitting empty...
Anyone else find the rules at Samuel Smith's pubs completely baffling? I wanted to share a breakdown of why the late Humphrey Smith—the long-time owner of Samuel Smith’s Brewery who passed away recently—was such a highly polarising figure among pub-goers, landlords, and locals alike. While some people respected him for keeping pint prices low and preserving historic, TV-free buildings, his rigid approach to running the business earned him a massive amount of criticism. Here is a summary of the main reasons his management style caused so much backlash, all based on well-documented public reporting: Strict Pub Bans: He banned mobile phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and background music to enforce a strict "Victorian" social environment. Customers checking a text or swearing were routinely asked to leave, and he famously refused to allow card payments in his pubs. Sudden Pub Closures: He was notorious for unannounced inspection visits. If a rule was breached, he would frequently shut the pub down on the spot and dismiss the managers with immediate effect. High-profile incidents included shutting a Sheffield pub because a specific dessert wasn't available, and closing a Worcestershire pub after overhearing a customer tell a joke with a swear word. The Tadcaster Footbridge Controversy: Following the 2015/2016 floods in Tadcaster (where the brewery is based), the town's main bridge collapsed. Smith legally blocked the local council from building a temporary footbridge on brewery land, which forced residents into a massive multi-mile detour and deeply angered the local community. Derelict Properties: Because of his strict requirements for tenants and property use, large portions of Tadcaster’s high street were left boarded up and vacant for years. By the time of his passing, dozens of his pubs across the UK sat completely empty because managers simply didn't want to work under those conditions. It will be interesting to see if the brewery modernises now that leadership has changed, or if they keep these strict traditions alive.
