We live next to the strictest pub in Britain – boozer bans phones and swearing…but here’s why we’ll still go
NEIGHBOURS have complained about what has been dubbed Britain’s strictest pub after it announced a raft of new rules.
Bosses of a historic village pub have revealed a ban on mobile phones, swearing and workwear while visiting.
They also insisted on only “well-behaved children” and none at all after 8pm, prompting fury from potential punters.
The Swan Inn in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire – the childhood home village of chart-topping pop star Harry Styles – reopened after five years of closure on Wednesday.
The venue, owned by the nationwide Samuel Smith’s group, marked its return by listing its strict new rules on Facebook, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Managers of the pub, which dates back to the 1800s, wrote: “Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome this week.
“We are a bed and breakfast and restaurant – for the enjoyment of all our guests this is a digital detox environment, so no mobile devices are allowed inside.
“We also have a strict no swearing and no workwear policy.
“Well-behaved children are welcome in the restaurant rooms for meals and outside in our beer garden until 8pm. Dogs are also welcome in our beer garden.
“We would like to create a calm and relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy so we appreciate everyone’s understanding in respecting our policy.
“If this is not the environment for you we completely understand. We look forward to meeting you soon.”
But there was a swift and angry backlash online, especially to the stipulation about “well-behaved children”.
Hannah Gibson posted: “What a shame. These rules are going to put a lot of the local people off.
“Also the ‘well behaved children welcome’ is pretty rude.”
Laura Davison commented: “What do you do with children that aren’t ‘well behaved’? Totally ridiculous rule in my opinion.”
And another potential customer Dan Cox said: “What a shame. I was hoping the pub would reopen as a more welcoming venue.”
Meanwhile, the venue’s page on reviews site Trip Advisor had a new comment from someone saying: “The pub has just reopened after being shut for over five years. Won’t be long before it’s shut again!
“No phones allowed in the pub a complete joke. Although quite entertaining watching adults have to go outside to make a phone call to tell somebody about the no phones policy.”
Others also wondered whether the ban on mobile phones would prevent people using apps such as Apple Pay to buy their drinks.
The venue responded to one such concern on Facebook by saying: “We accept card with no minimum payment and Apple Pay is welcomed.
“However we try to encourage no phone to bring back the social environment that a pub once was.
“If these rules aren’t for some people, we do understand.”
Some residents offered the Swan Inn their support, though.
Candy Lean remarked: “The rules may not be to everyone’s taste but they are specified by the brewery.
“Personally I’m really pleased to see the Swan open after such a long time and I wish the new managers success. We do plan to visit in the near future.”
The Tadcaster, North Yorkshire-based Samuel Smith’s group, which runs more than 200 pubs across Britain, is known for enforcing its ban on mobile phones elsewhere.
The brewery says they base their “pub ideals” on author George Orwell‘s description of a “perfect pub” in 1945 essay The Moon Under Water.
The Samuel Smith’s website quotes him as saying of his ideal venue: “The pub is quiet enough to talk, with the house possessing neither a radio nor a piano.”
Sun Online approached the firm for further comment on the Swan Inn’s reopening and the reception so far from residents.
Samuel Smith’s boss Humphrey Smith closed one of his pubs – in Droitwich, Worcestershire – overnight in October 2019 after popping in and overhearing a customer using the F-word.
He only agreed it could reopen three years later, on condition punters “keep it clean”.
Mr Smith had previously announced a zero-tolerance approach to swearing in his pubs, telling landlords to refuse to serve foul-mouthed customers.
And he extended the ban to mobile devices, saying he wanted to uphold behaviour that would have been acceptable to the original Samuel Smith when he founded the brewery in 1758.
He is said to regularly turn up, unannounced, to check high standards are being implemented at Samuel Smith’s pubs.
Holmes Chapel residents raised other concerns earlier this week – warning that Harry Styles fans visiting the village in droves are putting themselves in danger.
Superfans are said to be risking their lives to reach a viaduct where Harry is thought to have had his first kiss.