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[bigjim]

I have never been able to understand why H took all the signage down from his pubs..?

I think it is generally agreed that it was as a result of an article in the Sunday Times a few years ago by a journalist suggesting that Mr Humphrey Smith might well be the richest man in Yorkshire. Apparently he went ballistic, threatened legal action due to his 'invasion of privacy' and decreed that all brewery signage be removed from pubs and even dray waggons. It would seem that he feels nobody can discover how much he's worth if he makes it really difficult to locate all of his pubs. Well in fact they are quite easy to find because they have no brewery name; advertising of any sort; tatty banners or satellite dishes! In their own peculiar way, they stick out like sore thumbs! They're also quite often old, clearly historic and with the external fabric obviously well looked after. See if you can spot any we haven't already got - it really annoys him apparently.   

[JettaP]

You all have a point on here... strange man, archaic and feudal  attitudes funded by seemingly unlimited funds...
I have never been able to understand why H took all the signage down from his pubs..he is supposed to stand for the old fashioned values and heritage of the pub trade and yet he is destroying all of that, for what I ask?

[bigjim]

HE IS WORTH BILLIONS.THE BREWERY IS HIS TOY NOT HIS SOURCE OF INCOME!!

With respect, I think we do know what we're dealing with - it's just that we can't agree what - if anything - we can do about it. We are agreed that the normal rules of business simply do not apply in this case. I was particularly interested in what you said about the potential strike several years ago at the brewery. It think it is entirely within the character of the man to close the brewery for a period and sack everyone - but it would have reopened as this man is driven absolutely by his sense of history and his solemnly felt family obligation to ensure the business passes to subsequent generations. He may be going about it in entirely the wrong way - but that doesn't alter the strength of his conviction.

I also agree that money doesn't actually come into it (even though it's the reason he gives for all the cutbacks) it's his attitude to money - as you say he's worth billions but is famous for his meanness. Despite all the nonsense he came out with at the recent Sheffield tribunal about banking covenants, we all know there are limitless funds to spend on his historic pub estate and to fund endless and spiteful litigation.

In considering to what extent he runs the business as a 'hobby', I was pondering the other day that at least some of his pubs cannot possibly be making any money, and yet he is able to defy the natural laws of economics as they're still open. So even a boycot of his products would be fruitless because he doesn't actually give a damn about customers! Even if they shut for some reason, we know pubs are just boarded up and never sold. Or can somebody point to a pub that has closed because of poor trading, or has been sold?

There are so many things we don't know about this strange outfit - for instance, is there any evidence of him buying any pubs recently? I think we know exactly what we're dealing with - we just need to fill in all the pieces of the jigsaw and then maybe we can work out what to do!   

[piggy 1]

I am sorry to say that most of you have no idea about who you are dealing with, period!! he just doesn't care what anybody thinks about him, or how many court cases are brought agianst the him, letters of compliant, thousands of names on petitions, He just doesn't care!! True story; quite a few years ago, brewery staff were set to go on strike , a meeting was called, union reps were there, Humphrey walked in and told everybody to return to work right away or he would close the brewery then walked off. guess what? No strike and everybody returned to work right away. The unions had no power against him. HE DOES WHAT HE LIKES. If you are not happy working for him than get out, there are plenty of jobs out there for experianced and well trained management couples.(but thats the problem for most of the management he has in place in his pubs.) YOU CANNOT WIN WHILE HE IS INCHARGE. NO, THE FAMILY CANNOT SACK HIM NOBODY CAN.
HE IS WORTH BILLIONS.THE BREWERY IS HIS TOY NOT HIS SOURCE OF INCOME!!

I can only agree

[ONLY ME]

I am sorry to say that most of you have no idea about who you are dealing with, period!! he just doesn't care what anybody thinks about him, or how many court cases are brought agianst the him, letters of compliant, thousands of names on petitions, He just doesn't care!! True story; quite a few years ago, brewery staff were set to go on strike , a meeting was called, union reps were there, Humphrey walked in and told everybody to return to work right away or he would close the brewery then walked off. guess what? No strike and everybody returned to work right away. The unions had no power against him. HE DOES WHAT HE LIKES. If you are not happy working for him than get out, there are plenty of jobs out there for experianced and well trained management couples.(but thats the problem for most of the management he has in place in his pubs.) YOU CANNOT WIN WHILE HE IS INCHARGE. NO, THE FAMILY CANNOT SACK HIM NOBODY CAN.
HE IS WORTH BILLIONS.THE BREWERY IS HIS TOY NOT HIS SOURCE OF INCOME!!

[BlackDog]

Well said Moggy but how many of us will be able to stick to that when 12trees returns?

[moggy]

why do people use this site to have a go at each other, causing negative energy and bad feeling. the enemy is humphs no-one else, so use your valuable time to inform us where he is and what he is doing, remember that old saying fore-warned is fore-armed.
use this site correctly and it will help to bring the idiot to heel or at least give those still working for him valuable ammunition, if he has got spies making posts, can you imagine the fun he will be having when they read all the negative comments that are being posted against each other. STAND UNITED AND FIGHT AS ONE

[SILLYSOD]

only me- my post was about rumours and not u turns please read it and chill out.you got the reaction you got based on the tone of your post towards me.so as max said calm down.

[bigjim]

ONLY ME - I can well understand you being upset at some of the reaction - in the case of whether tv's are put back or not - time will clearly tell.

Someone with your knowledge I'm sure could shed some further light on this strange company and I for one hope you continue posting and filling in some gaps in our knowledge. In particular, are there any Sams pubs you know of and not already in our pubs list?

Cheers.
 

[ONLY ME]

So i have got it all wrong. Lets see! The topic is tv's back in pubs (based on rumour), then my reply pionts out that this is will most defiantly not happen, my reasoning being formed from over 25 years as a manager for Sams and having many meetings with Humphery over the last years with brewery when he became our area manager, ( we realised that we could not talk, deal or rationalise with someone who doesn't think on our plane of exsistance, so we left Sams , but i still deal with the brewery in my new job.) After my reply everybody jumps on the old band wagon of he's a spy, or he's a brewery plant!! lets ridicule and lambaste him. as regarding sillysods rant about necks and ability to comprehend. This topic is about a uturn in brewery policy regarding entertianment albeit rumour and not just about rumours of a change of crisp supplier or a rumour that they are making a Tia Maria equivelant. The point about people not knowing about Sams and how "he" works is based on the fact that the new disposable manager and of no fault of their own, usually dosen't know a barrel from a cask or a soft peg from a sparkler, they recieve no company induction and minimal training.

[Max]

Unity
 
As Bigjim rightly points out - let's all calm down a bit. 

I can quite understand that those visiting this site to contribute - will often have been influenced by current policies - or just a 'bad day' - in both instances usually brought about (directly or indirectly) by Humphrey Smith.

Ultimately, it is in my opinion (although I believe most of you would agree) that Humphrey Smith is the number one enemy - and we should concentrate our efforts and frustrations on addressing this issue. I'm sure Humphs would love to divide and conquer - when our main weapon of defence is solidarity.

All of this is somewhat reminiscent of tyrannical leaders of countries - who only remain in power, due to the absence or destruction of any true democracy. Usually, such leaders are only remembered for their cruelty and evil. What a legacy for a family that had built up such a good reputation, and earned such loyalty. I'm amazed that the rest of the family are either, 1) supportive of Humphs tyrannical regime - or, 2) too weak to do anything about it.

Rumour

When things are tough, people will naturally pay much more attention to any rumour. Some sources are obviously more reliable than others. And even rumours based on fact, can become outdated as situations can rapidly change.

Using these forums to compare, discuss and debate theories and rumours - can be a good and constructive move. But please let's not divulge sources of information (even if just rumour), so that we can protected everyone (and sources of information) from Smith - who as we all should know, hates the flow of information - and can prove to be highly vengeful and vindictive - fact!

As stress is obviously running high, as individuals fight or fear for the future of their livelihood, family security, and social community - maybe I could cash in on the situation, and get some 'stress dolls' manufactured and sold though the website. You know the ones - those with Velcroed  limbs that can be ripped-off, to satisfy some anger and frustration. These dolls could be custom made to resemble any individual.

Which reminds me, has anyone found a recent photo of Humphs yet! 

[bigjim]

Guys - can we all calm down and use some of this energy to enlighten those of us who don't work for the brewery - for instance we are trying to piece together just how big the SSOB empire is - mention has been made of the 'managed house estate' - it would be very helpful if we knew how big the franchised estate was - can any of you guys name some please? - are the social clubs owned or franchised?

Cheers.

[hunter]

ONLY ME why are you so arrogant  and why are you on this site ,Sams beers are second to none only their way of thinking is crap,the rumours about crisps have come true so watch this space for T.Vs.

[SILLYSOD]

and another thing only me why would you rather not say what your sam smiths status is.......what are you hiding

[SILLYSOD]

ONLY ME- Please pull your neck in and read the posts properly,i never mentioned anything about a policy u turn,only pointing out that rumours started by [removed by admin] do tend to have some basis in truth.
i mentioned the crisps as an example because i heard a rumour it was happeneing a long time ago.
also i cant enlighten you on any u turns because that was not what the post was about.so please before sprouting off learn to read things correctly