Paul,
Firstly welcome to the forum - it's good to hear customers viewpoints - it confirms this site as THE place to go for the latest information about everything to do with Sam Smith. The more different views we get, the more we can all be better informed.
Your post raises lots of issues and I'd like to add some thoughts to the debate. Unfortunately I didn't frequent this pub before the recent changes and that might possibly be precisely because it was widely accepted as a gay pub. For the same reason I've never been in the New Penny. I'm not homophobic, but like everyone I guess, I only want to drink in a pub where I feel comfortable and won't be the subject of unwanted attention or animosity even. I've never darkened the doors of the Duncan or General Elliot where I think anyone a bit smartly dressed would be regarded as either CID or just some kind of middle class unpleasant person.
I'm going to stick my neck out here and suggest that Mr Humphrey Smith, who of course runs the whole empire almost single-handed, is probably not in tune with many of todays liberal views on things like gay rights or indeed any kind of equal opportunity policies - but he does know the law pretty well and the dangers of discrimination. He seems to have decided that he wanted a more mixed clientelle at the Old Red Lion and chose a management couple who shared those views. Maybe they are not going about altering the social mix of the pub in a very sophisticated way, but cancelling all the activities like quiz nights etc is very definitely part of a plan to change the customer base of the pub.
Anyone who knows anything about Humphrey Smith at all will know that he cares not one jot if the pub is full every night or empty every night. He can easily keep any of his pubs running virtually without customers because he's so wealthy. This is no ordinary pub company we are talking about here, hence the closure time of 10.00pm. He positively relishes not doing what customers want and complaining will get you precisely nowhere. Of course it won't stop him blaming the management couple and possibly sacking them before they complete 12 months employment. He has a track record of doing this as any search of past posts on this forum will confirm.
You suggest telling the gay community to avoid using the pub. I understand why you feel like this, but of course it plays completely into the hands of the Brewery Management. I think it's fair for people to know what's going on and that the former very friendly gay focus of the pub has changed, but don't let him win by boycotting the pub. Remember, there are a hell of a lot of negatives to Sam Smiths pubs but price and quality are not two of them. Bitter is ?3.15 in the Adelphi and ?1.56 at the Old Red Lion.
A long post, but I hope it makes sense. Despite everything, lets ensure that this pub can be a friendly, accepting and pleasant place to drink good cheap beer in pleasant surroundings whatever our sexual orientation might be.
Cheers,
Jim
PS - Admin - very impressed with the software that edited one of my ill-considered terms! lol
