List of Sam Smiths London pubs

[Quinno]

Friend and I are trying to tick off all the Sams pubs in London. Turns out there isn't an up-to-date list anywhere, so I have had to make one by trawling around. Can anyone help refine this list?

cheers
Quinno

Sams and open


Anchor Tap (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24202/), Horselydown Lane, SE1 (done 18/10/19) NCA
Anerley Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24174/), Ridsdale Road, SE20 (done 18/10/19) NCA
Angel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23875/)101 Bermondsey Wall East SE16 4NB (done 18/10/19) NCA
Angel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22070/), St. Giles’ High Street, WC2 (done 6/9/19) CAA
Angel in the Fields (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22172/), Thayer Street, W1 (done 31/10/20) was NCA now CAA
Blue Posts (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22350/) 81 Newman Street W1T 3EU (done 15/11/19) CAA
Bricklayer’s Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22198/), Gresse Street, W1 (done 15/11/19) NCA
Capitan Kidd (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/25303/), Wapping High Street, E1 (done 18/10/19) CAA
Champion (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22207/), Wells Street, W1 (done 15/11/19) NCA
Chandos (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22078/), St. Martin’s Lane, WC2 (done 6/9/19) CAA
Cittie of York (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/21917/), High Holborn, WC1 (done 01/11/19) CAA
Cock (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22217/), Great Portland Street, W1 (done 18/10/19) CAA
Crown & Sugar Loaf (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54260/) 26 Bride Lane EC4Y 8DT (done 01/11/19) NCA
Crown (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/21951/)51 New Oxford Street WC1A 1BL (done 6/9/19) NCA
Duke of Argyll (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22230/) 37 Brewer Street W1F 0RY (done 6/9/19) NCA
Duke of York (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22913/)134 Victoria Street SW1E 5LA (done 31/10/20) CAA
Eagle (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22742/)15 Clifton Road W9 1SY (was Robert Browning) (done 31/10/20) NCA
Earl of Lonsdale (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54397/), Westbourne Grove, W11 (done 31/10/20) NCA
Fitzroy Tavern (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22245/), Charlotte Street, W1 (done 15/11/19) CAA
Gazebo (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/60078/), Thames Walk, Kingston on Thames (done 10/03/24) NCA
Glasshouse Stores (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22258/) 55 Brewer Street W1F 9UJ (done 6/9/19) NCA
Horse & Groom (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22282/) 128 Great Portland Street W1W 6PS (done 15/11/19) NCA
John Snow (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22291/) 39 Broadwick Street W1F 9QJ (done 01/11/19) NCA
Lyceum Tavern (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22113/), Strand, WC2 (done 6/9/19) CAA
Ordnance Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54389/) 29 Ordnance Hill NW8 6PS (done 31/10/20) NCA
Princess Louise (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22020/), High Holborn, WC1 (done 6/9/19) CAA
Red Lion (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22344/), Kingly Street, W1 (done 01/11/19) NCA
Rising Sun (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23355/), Cloth Fair, EC1 (done 01/11/19) NCA
Rose of York (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/36146/), Petersham Road, Richmond (done 28/1/22) NCA
Royal George (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23965/), Tanner’s Hill, SE8 - RE_OPENED!!! done 27/09/24) NCA
Town Wharf (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/27685/), Swan Street, Isleworth (done 10/03/24) NCA
White Horse (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22397/)45 Rupert Street W1D 7PJ (done 6/9/19) CAA
Windsor Castle (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22856/) 23 Francis Street SW1P 1DN (done 15/11/19) CAA
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/56162/) Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, EC4 (done 01/11/19) CAA
Ye Olde Swiss Cottage (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23756/), Finchley Road, NW3 (done 31/10/20) was CAA, now NCA
Yorkshire Grey (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22406/), Langham Street, W1 (done 15/11/19) NCA


CAA (cask ale available) = 14
NCA (no cask ale) = 22

Mentioned elsewhere but not found in PuG or ambiguous
Dover Castle (now Jackalope and not Sams)
Freemason’s Arms, Long Acre, WC1 (now owned by Sheps)
George & Vulture 3 Castle Court EC3V 9DL (ambiguous - restaurant operation!)
Lord Wolseley, White Lion Street, N1 (now Craft Beer Co)
Shades, Bucklersbury, EC4 (demolished)

[Bucking Fastard]

I was thinking of going in The George & Vulture (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/67127/)back in January but from the outside it looked to me like you would have to negotiate with a waiter if you didn't want to be seated for a chop house meal.I gave up but maybe it is worth persevering ,even if it leads to a deletion from PuG for what I seem to remember is a famous old building.

[Pubsignman]

I'd say your list looks comprehensive to me. I can't think of any recent openings and you've covered the most recent closures in the section at the bottom of your list. The only question mark is the George & Vulture - as I understand it, this is owned by Sam Smiths but is set up as a restaurant which doesn't have draught beer (just bottled Sam Smiths beer) and does not welcome casual drinkers. From walking by the place in the past, I never got the impression it's a pub, so would probably drop it from your list.

Good luck with it - hope you like keg OBB!

[oldboots]

I was going to suggest http://samsmiths.info/forum/index.php but it appears to have shut down (or been Humphreyed).

You don't need to drink keg OBB, the stout is pretty good, Sovereign is like an old school keg bitter and Four Pure is reckoned to be a fine lager. The bottles can be outstanding if expensive, I have a weakness for Taddy Porter and Yorkshire Stingo is a rare treat at 7% odd. Part of the USP of Sam's is the no additives rule which probably accounts for the higher quality of most of their products.

[Wild Rover]

A couple of years ago i wrote all the London pubs down from the Sam Smiths London challenge and your list is exactly the same. There was 37 but that included The George and Vulture and The Dover Castle but they are mentioned anyway.

[Aqualung]

Friend and I are trying to tick off all the Sams pubs in London. Turns out there isn't an up-to-date list anywhere, so I have had to make one by trawling around. Can anyone help refine this list?

cheers
Quinno


Freemason’s Arms, Long Acre, WC1 (now owned by Sheps)


I can't add anything to your list but if I remember rightly the Freemasons was a Bass Charrington house that became a Sheps pub. I have no recollection of it being a Smith's pub but that certainly doesn't mean I'm right!
I'd be interested to know whether these pubs are leased or if Sams actually own the freehold.

[Quinno]

I can't add anything to your list but if I remember rightly the Freemasons was a Bass Charrington house that became a Sheps pub. I have no recollection of it being a Smith's pub but that certainly doesn't mean I'm right!
I'd be interested to know whether these pubs are leased or if Sams actually own the freehold.

I recall being told many were freehold and that is partly the reason why Sams don't need to raise revenues or sell shares - Humph is sitting on a mega million property empire.

[oldboots]

I recall being told many were freehold and that is partly the reason why Sams don't need to raise revenues or sell shares - Humph is sitting on a mega million property empire.

That is the received wisdom, SS certainly own a lot of Taddy, however a bit more rumour is that Samuel Smith Ltd is owned by a family trust not Mr Humphrey and the trust rules say he should step down when he reaches a certain age. He reached that age some time ago and younger members of the family are alleged to be about to challenge Mr Humphrey in court.

[rpadam]

That is the received wisdom, SS certainly own a lot of Taddy, however a bit more rumour is that Samuel Smith Ltd is owned by a family trust not Mr Humphrey and the trust rules say he should step down when he reaches a certain age. He reached that age some time ago and younger members of the family are alleged to be about to challenge Mr Humphrey in court.
The last return for the Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) unlimited company to Companies House in 2015 contained a full list of shareholders as follows:
1843

[Quinno]

The last return for the Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) unlimited company to Companies House in 2015 contained a full list of shareholders as follows:
1843

That's just a number of different Humphs ala Mr Benn!

[Aqualung]

I recall being told many were freehold and that is partly the reason why Sams don't need to raise revenues or sell shares - Humph is sitting on a mega million property empire.

I wrote to Sam Smiths donkey's years ago asking for a list of their tied houses but got a reply stating that they were just a small Yorkshire brewery. I think they may have suggested some areas in Yorkshire.
The one that interests me the most is the Fleet Street Olde Cheshire Cheese as on a visit to Marston's brewery when they were the only pub in London selling Pedigree I was told they sent more Pedigree there than to all of their Southern outlets which I believe were mainly in the Winchester area.

[rpadam]

That's just a number of different Humphs ala Mr Benn!
The trustee for the various trusts that own the Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) is Samuel Smith (Southern).

The three shares in Samuel Smith (Southern) are held by HRW Smith, OGW Smith and Rochdale & Manor.

The 250,00 shares in Rochdale & Manor are held by, low and behold, HRW Smith (250) and Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) (249,750).

That's a nice circle!

[Pangolin]

You need to add The Duke of York (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22913/) at Victoria, just reopened as a Sam's house after a very long closure.

[Quinno]

You need to add The Duke of York (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22913/) at Victoria, just reopened as a Sam's house after a very long closure.

Superb tip-off, many thanks!

My co-Challengee has acquired a puppy so finishing the Challenge is postponed until Spring next year whilst the little chap is house (and pub) trained. Not many left to do...(have a backlog of reviews to knock-out though!)

[Mobyduck]

My co-Challengee has acquired a puppy so finishing the Challenge is postponed until Spring next year whilst the little chap is house (and pub) trained.
Heard some excuses in my time, but it appears to be true.
1901

[Quinno]

Three more to do, the Greater London outliers. It's been fun!

[bcfczuluarmy]

Not sure how you've managed to do pubs in October 2020 given we are only in March from your date list..... Also not sure why you'd want to do all SS pubs they sell ming in a glass, but that's just my opinion.

[sheffield hatter]

Not sure how you've managed to do pubs in October 2020 given we are only in March.....

I suspect that 31/10/2020 was a typo for 31/01/2020.

[Quinno]

I suspect that 31/10/2020 was a typo for 31/01/2020.

:rolleyes: indeed so

[Quinno]

Fingers crossed the final four on this list will be crossed off tomorrow - 2 years on!!

[trainman]

Impressive, so is it Isleworth, Richmond, Kingston?
Admirable to do London... plus environs, or outliers as you say, good luck!

[Quinno]

Impressive, so is it Isleworth, Richmond, Kingston?
Admirable to do London... plus environs, or outliers as you say, good luck!

Yep, those three. Turns out the closed one in Deptford has also re-opened - a pub too far for tomorrow. So still one on the list but the rest will be done, pretty simple from Reading and there'll be a few extra GBG ones thrown into the mix which are nearby.

[Quinno]

Yep, those three. Turns out the closed one in Deptford has also re-opened - a pub too far for tomorrow. So still one on the list but the rest will be done, pretty simple from Reading and there'll be a few extra GBG ones thrown into the mix which are nearby.

So it turns out that only one was conquered yesterday. Deptford was binned-off as being too far a schlep, whilst the Sams in Isleworth and Kingston are both shut. Humph strikes again.

[Quinno]

Finally, yesterday, five years on, I finally completed the challenge! Finishing at Isleworth. Waiting for both that and the one in Kingston to both be open at the same time has taken an age.

All the London Spoons next!

[rpadam]

Finally, yesterday, five years on, I finally completed the challenge! Finishing at Isleworth. Waiting for both that and the one in Kingston to both be open at the same time has taken an age.

Congratulations!

PS - What's the best source of a definite list?

[Quinno]

Congratulations!

PS - What's the best source of a definite list?

I can't recall exactly where I started the list, think there was a website somewhere that listed them and then it was x-ref through Google.

[Bucking Fastard]

Finally, yesterday, five years on, I finally completed the challenge! Finishing at Isleworth. Waiting for both that and the one in Kingston to both be open at the same time has taken an age.



Congrats......that's dedication of the highest order.Has Humphrey given you anything to mark the achievement :evilgrin:

[Quinno]

Congrats......that's dedication of the highest order.Has Humphrey given you anything to mark the achievement :evilgrin:

I can say 'bugger' once a month in any of his London pubs.