The death of the owner of Sam Smith’s Brewery has led to some new messages being left on a famous vacant pub in York.
The York Arms, which stands in the shadow of the Minster on High Petergate, has been empty for seven years.
Like so many Sam Smith’s pubs, it shut suddenly and with no explanation.
That was in February 2019. And since then it has been left to gather dust.
And it is in that dust that the new messages have appeared. They follow the death of the eccentric owner of Sam Smith’s Brewery, Humphrey Smith.
In the muck on the long uncleaned windows, someone has scrawled: “He has gone!”
And on another pane, comes the message: “Please open the pub”.
That could be seen as a plea to the new owner of the brewery, Humphrey’s son Samuel.
Nick Love, York Camra Pub Protection Officer, told YorkMix after the brewery legend died: “There is no doubt that his son Samuel Smith who takes over the mantle has a big job to do to bring many of their pubs back into public use with rules more reflective of current times and set the brewery on a course for 21st century success.”
There are signs that this may be happening. A new sign has appeared on some empty Sam Smith pubs advertising them to potential managers.
One is on the Brown Cow on Hope Street. It says ‘Put this pub back at the heart of the community – Apply to manage this pub.”
It directs anyone interested to the Sam Smith’s website, runapub.co.uk.
