Humphrey Smith, the brewery boss who banned phones and swearing in his pubs, dies at 81

Humphrey Smith, the longtime owner of the Samuel Smith's brewery and pub chain, has died at age 81, the company confirmed. Smith had run the historic Tadcaster-based brewery since the 1980s, overseeing a family business that traces its roots to 1758 and operates roughly 200 pubs across the UK.

Smith gained a reputation for imposing a strict set of house rules — banning mobile phones, music, televisions, and swearing at his pubs — which the company's website describes as creating “havens from the digital world.” The policy drew both loyal patrons and sharp criticism over the decades.

Richard Sweeting, mayor of Tadcaster, called Smith a “true gentleman” and a “man of principle.” Speaking after the news of his death, Sweeting said the town was in mourning. “The flag on the town centre brewery was flown at half-mast in tribute,” he said. “Mr Smith did things in Tadcaster unseen, things people don't know about. We’ve got a lot to thank him for.”

Smith took control as chairman and converted many tenanted pubs into managed houses directly employed by the brewery. That shift gave him tight control over the atmosphere and operations, but also led to a series of controversial closures. Over the years, multiple Samuel Smith's pubs shut abruptly, often with handwritten notes citing policy breaches. In 2024, The Shoulder of Mutton in Bradford closed without explanation, and in 2023, The Abbey in Derby was shuttered after a dispute over online photos of the pub.

The brewery also drew fire for refusing to allow a temporary footbridge on its land after floods damaged Tadcaster's 18th-century bridge in 2015. Smith branded the £300,000 bridge project a “waste of public money,” though he later softened his stance. The structure was eventually built on council-owned land.

Despite the controversies, many in the industry recognized Smith's contributions. A spokesperson for York CAMRA noted: “The headlines will say he was a divisive figure, but he presided over a family brewery that produces exceptional real ale and craft keg beers at affordable prices, and his pubs provided a huge social impact. He leaves his son Samuel both a legacy and a challenge — to reopen many closed pubs and bring some of the more arcane rules into the 21st century.”

Smith's death marks the end of an era for Tadcaster, where he was a major landowner and a quietly influential figure. The brewery has not yet issued a direct statement on his passing.,