The Perfect Pub

Samuel Smith’s Brewery operates in the region of 200 pubs; most are small pubs situated in the former mill, mine and steel areas of the north of England. Many pubs in such neighbourhoods are closing but we keep ours open and well maintained serving the local community and offering value for money. The pubs only stock Samuel Smith’s Brewery products. George Orwell described his perfect pub in a 1945 essay entitled “The Moon under Water” – Samuel Smith’s pubs accord with his ideal in several ways:

• The architecture and fittings must be uncompromisingly Victorian
• Games, such as darts, are only played in the public bar so that in other bars you can walk about without the worry of flying darts
• The pub is quiet enough to talk, with the house possessing neither a radio nor a piano (we do not have music or TVs in our pubs)
• The barmaids know the customers by name and take an interest in everyone
• A creamy sort of draught stout is served
• In winter there is generally a good fire burning in at least two of the bars