I first stumbled across a Samuel Smith's pub back in 2005 in London. Exiting the station at Oxford Circus, I quickly saught liquid refreshement. First we stopped off at the Argyll Arms, a woeful pub that I advise everyone to avoid. Decided to cross the road and up Great Portland Street, and consequently stumbled across
The Cock. It was very quiet but warm inside with a traditional interior - a proper pub - and I was there for a couple of hours enjoying the Old Brewery Bitter and a decent book. Then by total cooincidence I walked along Eastcastle Street and found
The Champion. A pub of identical style with remarkable windows and also a dart board.
Since then I have returned to both pubs on many occasions and developed a love for Samuel Smiths and their remarkable chain of pubs. With low prices, consistently good bitter, tasty cider, a wonderful wheat beer and some of the best pub interiors left in existence, more people should support these wonderful establishments, especially in the capital.
Outside of London,
Sinclairs Oyster Bar was the first Samuel Smith's pub that I visited, although I hear it has gone downhill since when I first went in back in October 2005. I now spend a lot of my time in Sheffield and consequently have enjoyed the recently refurbished and reopened
The Brown Bear, another friendly Samuel Smiths pub.
I have visited over 50 Samuel Smith's pubs now, and aim to visit the rest over the next few years, and post my thoughts of both the ones I have already visited, and the new ones that I encounter on my travels.
