Samuel Smith's official website pub declaration of around 200 pubs

[Coriolanus]

Youre applying normal business logic to am abnormal business model. There is at least one example of them buying a brewery and keeping it going....look on the back of the cherry beer bottles for details of the Stamford brewery. I'm not saying that they do or dont own RDNB but their attempts to be secretive are well known. They go to extreme lengths to make sure that no-one knows exactly how much they own, and they are ready to pay extreme amounts to ensure it. Huge policy decisions have been made simply to ensure their precious anonymity.

[OnTheDrink]

Youre applying normal business logic to am abnormal business model. There is at least one example of them buying a brewery and keeping it going....look on the back of the cherry beer bottles for details of the Stamford brewery. I'm not saying that they do or dont own RDNB but their attempts to be secretive are well known. They go to extreme lengths to make sure that no-one knows exactly how much they own, and they are ready to pay extreme amounts to ensure it. Huge policy decisions have been made simply to ensure their precious anonymity.

What anonymity? What extreme lengths do they go to? Their directorships and shareholdings are all public. They're no more 'secret' than any other private company that doesn't have to publish accounts, and there are a lot of them. The only reason companies have to publish accounts is if the company has limited liability. Sam Smith's isn't.   I don't give a stuff how much Humphrey Smith owns, and why should anyone - what difference does it make?  All I care about is his his mismanagement of the pub estate, his appalling staff treatment and the effect it all has on his customers, me included.

[bigjim]

I think it's time to draw a line under this thread as we're getting tetchy again. Long-time members will know we've been here before and the arguments and issues have been well rehearsed. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree on some issues as we all have slightly differing responses to Humphrey, his business decisions and his treatment of people whether they be staff, the public or customers. I do sometimes feel it would be good if somebody could write up a general synopsis of the story so far though - especially for new comers - so we don't keep going over old ground. I might even volunteer to do it myself!

My take on Humphrey and how to respond as a sometimes disgruntled customer is to try and find out as much as possible for the following reasons. 1) It annoys him 2) I'm interested 3) Information is power.   

[OnTheDrink]

I think it's time to draw a line under this thread as we're getting tetchy again. Long-time members will know we've been here before and the arguments and issues have been well rehearsed. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree on some issues as we all have slightly differing responses to Humphrey, his business decisions and his treatment of people whether they be staff, the public or customers. I do sometimes feel it would be good if somebody could write up a general synopsis of the story so far though - especially for new comers - so we don't keep going over old ground. I might even volunteer to do it myself!

My take on Humphrey and how to respond as a sometimes disgruntled customer is to try and find out as much as possible for the following reasons. 1) It annoys him 2) I'm interested 3) Information is power.

Yes, all agreed.  Have to say your last line made me laugh though - particularly the annoying Hump bit

[DarkieBoy]

Youre applying normal business logic to am abnormal business model. There is at least one example of them buying a brewery and keeping it going....look on the back of the cherry beer bottles for details of the Stamford brewery. I'm not saying that they do or dont own RDNB but their attempts to be secretive are well known. They go to extreme lengths to make sure that no-one knows exactly how much they own, and they are ready to pay extreme amounts to ensure it. Huge policy decisions have been made simply to ensure their precious anonymity.

Was not the Stamford Brewery closed for a time?

DB.

[OldBreweryDrinker]

I think we do definately annoy Humphrey Smith and brewery, due to our public information listed on here. As stated information is power to the customers of the brewery. May be one day we might have a near complete list.

[OnTheDrink]

Was not the Stamford Brewery closed for a time?

DB.

Many years until the company hit on the rather progressive idea to start brewing the fruit beers there. Bet that wouldn't happen now.

[OldBreweryDrinker]

Three lovely flavours of Cherry, Strawberry and Raspberry. Unfornately only the Cherry Beer is sold in the pubs.

[DarkieBoy]

Three lovely flavours of Cherry, Strawberry and Raspberry. Unfornately only the Cherry Beer is sold in the pubs.

I seem to recall seeing either Strawberry or Raspberry in a London pub, possibly the Fitzroy.

DB.

[OldBreweryDrinker]

Three lovely flavours of Cherry, Strawberry and Raspberry. Unfornately only the Cherry Beer is sold in the pubs.

I seem to recall seeing either Strawberry or Raspberry in a London pub, possibly the Fitzroy.

DB.

Must say that's a first. Suppose it might be because of no retail outlets down London way.

[DarkieBoy]

Three lovely flavours of Cherry, Strawberry and Raspberry. Unfornately only the Cherry Beer is sold in the pubs.

I seem to recall seeing either Strawberry or Raspberry in a London pub, possibly the Fitzroy.

DB.

Must say that's a first. Suppose it might be because of no retail outlets down London way.

Could also be that there was an incorrect delivery.

DB.

[OldBreweryDrinker]

Three lovely flavours of Cherry, Strawberry and Raspberry. Unfortunately only the Cherry Beer is sold in the pubs.

I seem to recall seeing either Strawberry or Raspberry in a London pub, possibly the Fitzroy.

DB.

Must say that's a first. Suppose it might be because of no retail outlets down London way.

Could also be that there was an incorrect delivery.

DB.

Might have been, as the brewery staff are probably under enormous pressure to