A customers grumble

[yorkie]

In the last few years the brewery have,

Taken all outside signs down, are they ashamed of their products?
Removed alcopops so no youngsters will go in.
Replaced branded soft drinks with inferior in-house products so no non-drinkers go.
Replaced branded wines & spirits with inferior in-house products so no shorts drinkers either.
Banned music & TV so no entertainment fans.
Refused to allow outside smoking shelters so no smokers.
Done no renovations so the pubs are dirty & dingy.
Replaced experienced managers and staff with new people who have little or no interest in the pub.

So whats left? In the 2 pubs I use, just a few middle aged die hard beer or lager drinkers with the number shrinking week by week.

Has the brewery lost all commercial sense or does HS wish to make the pubs uneconomic so he can sell them for housing? I would have thought he would have had a sense of responsibility for carrying on the family tradition but maybe 'absolute power has corrupted absolutely'?

[belfastgirl]

well thats what everybody thinks he is doing to us,good bit of land round us,who knows?but totaly agree with wot u saying,i dont think there anyone under 50 years of age in our pub,but if not 4 them we would have no one,again such a shame as we were once the best,until sams smith got hands on us.

[red arrow]

Maybe or could it be to reduce inheritance tax liability

[belfastgirl]

wotever the reason,the brothers grim have lost the plot.

[Tink]

personally i think his lordship is running his pubs in yorkshire down... and when they are theyre  lowest point he will then hand it over to his son (apparently he and his son have had a disagreement that his son said he will put entertainment in and his lordship said 'over my dead body) so i recon he will hand it over and say ' thats the state i got them in... you can build it up now; but by then it will be too late i recon

[centurion]

personally i think his lordship is running his pubs in yorkshire down... and when they are they're lowest point he will then hand it over to his son (apparently he and his son have had a disagreement that his son said he will put entertainment in and his lordship said 'over my dead body) so i reckon he will hand it over and say ' thats the state i got them in... you can build it up now; but by then it will be too late i reckon

Read the company history and it has all been done before!!

I suppose the only saving grace is, it is still British, i was asked the other day what was the biggest British owned brewery, not so long ago the answer was immediate, now you really have to think!!

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

What everybody should remeber is that "YOU CAN NOT TELL A YORKSHIRE MAN TO DO ANYTHING"

[dwarf]

H.S. should hand the business to his son now before its to late. From what i've read on this site he would do a much better job. DO IT DO IT NOW HUMPH.

[littlemiss]

My husband has used a samuel smith club for years, and enjoys their drink very much, however he now as stopped going in due to the  lack of entertainment. I cannot get a drink that i like in one of their pubs/clubs because they have taken away alot of products  they sold. We used to go in the club 4-5 nights a week but now go in a Johns smiths Club as the drink is nicer, allthough its dearer its worth the extra cost to have entertainment and a nice drink.

One of my family members happens to work for Sam Smiths and im appauled at the treatment they receive by this Humphrey man (should i say man would he come under this catogory?) As we all know if you want to sack some one from your employment you have to go through the disciplinary process unless its gross mis conduct and then its expected that you could be dismissed. He cant even manage to do this correctly.

He has the audacity to complain over the weeds in the garden in one pub, but in another club not too far away wont have the tiles fixed that have fell off the wall in the ladies!!!!!! If you read this get a grip and deal with your own issues before you put that much pressure on your managers that you make them feel suicidle.

i would suggest to you that the chartered management institute in team leading would be a fantastic course for you humphrey i suggest you start at level 2 you need it.

Regards

A concerned ex customer and family member to one of your managers.

[grahamglen]

Humphrey cant always have been like he is, it might be to do with his age so try to show some sympathy. Having said that I do feel sorry for the way some people have been treated.

[Max]

Humphrey cant always have been like he is, it might be to do with his age so try to show some sympathy. Having said that I do feel sorry for the way some people have been treated.

We all know that he hasn't always been like that, probably taking the time to read other posts, will give you sufficient information to see that people are complaining about the downhill change in circumstance, from what was a good and well respected organisation.

It's difficult to show sympathy for someone who is being exceptionally cruel to many people, and messing up so many innocent peoples lives. I think they are the ones who you should feel some sympathy for, as their circumstances are often forced beyond their control. Whereas the multimillionaire brewery owners, at least have the (financial) resources to control their own future.

Even in the event of age (although Humphs is a relatively young 64) being a disability, the resources are there to delegate work-load. However, Humphs is doing the complete opposite by getting rid of his experienced staff, replacing area managers with himself, and taking on inexperienced individuals who, by no fault of their own, are only lasting a matter of weeks, due to the lack of training that once existed.

The current situation is driving once loyal customers away (who Humph has already indicated that he has little respect for), and in effect destroying a business which was handed to them on a platter.

With the possibilities of other disabilities, and the sympathy of this site already demonstrated, then see here: http://samsmiths.info/forum/index.php?topic=316.0

grahamglen - may I respectfully suggest that when you have a little time, you read through the content of this site, so that you are more familiar with the current situation - and you will then also read how things compare to the way things used to be - when the only websites to do with the brewery, were individual pub-run sites, encouraging the public - before they were all banned by Humphs.

[Ayingerbrau]

I think you will find that most people will be happy, the sooner he drops DEAD!!!

That's really sad, but the fact is that it is true, many many people would take great comfort and deep joy from the death of Humphrey Smith, and I doubt many would mourn with sincerity.

What a way to end up - I hope he reads these posts - talk about thick skin!!

[grahamglen]

Whatever his faults I dont want him to die, you never know he may go back to being nice again.

[icefire66]

i wonder if grahamglen is in hs's employ? maybe paid per nonsensical postins? or maybe he is just lonely, you just don't know nowadays. a bit sycophantic if you ask me.

[JettaP]

The mans MAD rather than BAD ...let's not wish him consigned to the great driptray in the sky prematurely... he may even yet repent... remember Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens "A Christmas Carol"

[Max]

The mans MAD rather than BAD ...let's not wish him consigned to the great driptray in the sky prematurely... he may even yet repent... remember Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens "A Christmas Carol"

I agree whole heartily!

Despite rumour and suspicion - no one knows for certain, why HS has been going down the pan. Whether it's bad influence or illness, or even a combination of both - who knows, it may be reversible.

However, it still worries me that the people who might be able to do or influence something, is his family and friends(?) - especially his brother/Co Director, Oliver - yet they seem to be doing nothing, whilst not only a part of their inheritance, but more so their reputation, and family name go to ruin.

As a direct result of the 'cookoo' eviction incident, I have since made a press release to all of the UK national press, T.V. and Cleethorpes Member of Parliament - and some I have spoken further with since. Some are even talking about doing an extended feature on the brewery decline and HS.

If he continues to behave so badly to people, the bad publicity will escalate. If he wants to stay away from the media - all he needs to do, is do the right thing - and he already has the blue-print to work from, by turning back the clock of regime, some 10 years or more, and reverting back to the good man he possibly used to be.