Heard today that Samuel Smiths has some farm land in the Norfolk area, not sure where though.Anyone know anything about this, tried using the internet but not much comes up. I know Humphrey's neice i think is married to someone related to the Duke of Norfolk, old money rules again

He likes his swim, normally goes at 7am.

I have to say I've not seem him for weeks, but I'm not in Tad during working hours.

He was in Tadcaster this afternoon, saw him walking through town to the swimming pool, he even had his wellies on and towel tucked under his arm

You must be joking!

DB.

I believe that the Managers Debbie and Adam have gone from here not sure whether they were sacked or just left. A new manager called Morris has taken over, if i have time this week, i will drop by to see what the situation is.

He was in Tadcaster this afternoon, saw him walking through town to the swimming pool, he even had his wellies on and towel tucked under his arm

Bit like the story of the bobbies picking him up for looking through pub letter boxes to make sure there's no 'lock ins'. Both wonderful stories to add to the legend that is Humphrey Smith. I do hope they're true.............but the whole thing is very sad also if indeed he is deteriorating mental health wise. What on earth can the family do as it seems there are only two shareholders - I assume getting someone declared unfit to hold office is a legal nightmare - Court of Protection involved?

I have heard is that he often books himself in bootham mental hospital in York, but this time was put in by the local authority, to see if he was of sane mind, as he had been arrested lately,for looking through bins at one of his pubs to see if the manager was selling products that are not sam smiths, apparently the police approached him asked him what he was doing and when he tried to explain who he was and what he was doing they said yes and we are bat man n robin, your nicked mate for vagrancy,not sure if its all true?

It will help if your frends are ex forces personnel. Some of the more successful and longer lasting managers are former army servicemen. They are used to taking orders, know that the officers are often prats, get on with the job, and above all just follow orders. the question why is not one that is encouraged in the army, or in the Sam Smiths empire, and I know that Humphrey for this reason often favours ex forces. However, even the army treats its loyal members with some respect, and does not expect its troops to be simply cannon fodder any more. the present general of the Smiths empire is more akin to a first world war general than a modern leader.

Is the outlook for managers so bleak that NO ONE can make a success of these pubs?  Well in a nutshell YES the outlook is bleak. As managers you have no control of the pubs management, as you are just senior barstaff. Mr. Smiffy is the manager.
You can't do anything to encourage people into your pub because the manager (Smiffy) will not let you. For instance, no free pool to encourage drinkers in. No music to encourage couples in. No home cooked food to encourage diners in. No televisions to encourage the sportsmen and women in.
All you have to encourage people in is cheap ale. Apart from shorts the drinks choice for the ladies is few and far between. You can't even buy a bloody Bitter Lemon for the missus in a Smiffy pub nor make a snowball at Christmas.
Please forgive me but your friends have made a grave error of judgement in packing in their jobs to work 18 hours a day in a Smiffy pub.

Hi there,

First up, great forum, Its good to see people are getting support from somewhere.

My query is regarding two friends of mine who all very suddenly quit their jobs in order to relocate and run an SS pub in a brand new city.

They are two people I have worked with for many years. Whilst they are good people - they are not managemnet material. Their staff training from SS seems to have been woefully brief and I'm worried for their ability to run a pub when Mr. Smith seems so keen to make it impossible.

My extensive research on this site has given me great concern for them. They are in a delighted bubble, thinking this will be the making of them and because neither can work a pc I doubt they'll have read anything like the accounts on here of Mr. Smith.

Is the outlook for managers so bleak that NO ONE can make a success of these pubs? Is it nigh-on certain that all managers will be sacked for frivolous and unfair reasons? 

Thanks