Sam Smith pubs have a series of bizarre rules that aim to encourage conversation between punters.
These include banning mobile phones, tablets, laptops, televisions and jukeboxes. The pubs are also cash-only and don’t allow swearing.
But how strictly are the rules followed? To put them to the test, we decided to see what would happen if we attempted to break every single rule at a Sam Smith’s boozer in Leeds. We chose the Nags Head in Chapel Allerton and popped in on a wet and dreary Wednesday afternoon.
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I went in with a backpack of prohibited items. I found a table in good view of the bar and set about creating a workspace.
I got out my work laptop, turned it on and its agonising start-up music played, which turned a couple of heads. The customer base seemed to be more elderly gentlemen, and for a mid-afternoon, it was quite busy. There was lots of conversation, there seemed to be a nice atmosphere.
Sure the Stonebridge Lane pub looks old fashioned and could probably do with a fresh lick of paint and a refurb – but it’s a part of the traditional look the Sam Smith’s brand goes for.
Next out of my goody bag was my tablet, which I propped up on the table beside the laptop, and then I got my blue tooth speaker out. I didn’t seem to attract any attention until I got my phone out and started obnoxiously taking a selfie, holding my laptop up like it was a pint of beer.
A couple of old men thought I was taking a picture of them. I assured them that wasn’t the case. “That’s good, I’d probably make your screen crack,” one of them joked.
As I went over to the bar, I pretended to search my pockets, and said “s***, I haven’t got any cash”. I asked if they took card or if a PayPal payment would be acceptable. The barmaid, who looked like a teenager, wrinkled her brow as she noticed the workspace I had created behind me.
She said: “You can’t use those in here. If the owner Humphrey [Smith] were to come in and saw that, he’d tell us to shut and ask everyone to leave.”
The barmaid did actually look genuinely worried. It felt as if she was being sincere.
I asked her if I had to leave with my items, she said yes, that I had to go. As I was packing up, I decided to take one more selfie, to see what would happen.
I saw the barmaid speaking with older staff members in the distance, she once again approached the bar. She said: “You’ll have to delete that picture. Please don’t post it anywhere as we could all get sacked.”
I told them that was fine and I left the pub with my bag in hand. Samuel Smith’s Brewery have been asked for a comment.
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