Humphrey Smith’s ideocentric command of his Samuel Smith pub empire polarised a nation, but managers and loyal customers tell Alex Ross that his unique style of running a ‘traditional pub’ should never be undervalued, or overridden, following his recent death

His death was announced yesterday, and he leaves behind a somewhat polarising legacy - a stout defender of pub values over the relentless march of smartphones and fruit machines.

Its pubs are infamous for banning mobile phones and TVs