As we all know Sam Smiths under its present leadership has many faults, but generally speaking looking after this country's pub heritage is not one of them. Humphrey still spends an absolute fortune on many of his best pubs and lovingly restores them, at a time when many owners are still gutting and ruining theirs.
CAMRA has just published a lovely little book entitled 'Yorkshire's Real Heritage Pubs' price ?4.99 and the Berkley Hotel is described as "one of the best preserved road houses in Britain". Judging by the photos of the interior, although not listed, Sam Smiths have skilfully restored the interiors to how they would have looked when it opened in 1940.
I know Humphrey has many, many faults and is probably ill. He causes much heartache to his employees and customers alike, but Sam Smiths have lots of listed and 'heritage' pubs and he always pays a great deal of attention to their refurbishments. I think we should at least give the present owner credit for doing this so that future generations are able to enjoy what a proper pub should look like.
