Is this really the perfect pub?

No Phones. No Music. No Tech. Just Pints.

Samuel Smith’s Brewery has built a reputation as fiercely traditional. Step into one of their pubs and you’ll find no TVs, no background music, no mobile phones, no laptops — no tech, full stop. The intention, according to their own words, is to create a haven from the digital world. A place where conversation thrives and pints are enjoyed without distractions.

It’s a compelling idea in theory. In an age of constant connectivity, a screen-free sanctuary has its appeal. But over the weekend, a story from my hometown of Derby brought that philosophy into sharp, uncomfortable focus.

Samuel Smiths are self proclaimed a digital detox pub.

A Pub Shuttered for a Photo

The historic Abbey pub in Darley Abbey is now closed. According to a handwritten sign on the door, it was shut down after someone posted a photo of the pub on social media. The tenant – who ran the place – says he was sacked as a result.

Let that sink in. A pub, in 2025, closed because a customer shared an image online.

The alcohol was removed. The doors locked. Just like that.

The sign posted on the door in Darley Abbey

About the Abbey

For those not from the Derby area, forgive me. Here is a brief history of The Abbey. The pub in Darley Abbey, Derby, is housed within one of the last surviving structures of the medieval Augustinian monastery known as the Abbey of St Mary. Dating back to the 15th century, this Grade II* listed building is believed to have originally served as the Abbot’s lodging or a guesthouse for pilgrims. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538, the building underwent various transformations, including use as workers’ cottages and a butcher’s shop. After a period of dereliction, it was restored and converted into a public house in 1979, preserving many of its historical architectural features. It was also featured in the ghost hunting TV show "Most Haunted" due to it's fame for spirits away from Vodka and Rum.

The Abbey in Darley Abbey

So where Does Leadership Cross the Line?

There’s a bigger question here than just one closure. It’s about leadership vs control.

Is this a bold vision of what a “perfect pub” should be — or is it top-down micromanagement that alienates staff, customers, and communities?

As a former manager myself, I always tried to avoid negative messaging on the front door of my pubs, bars and nightclubs. People go to pubs to relax, unwind, and enjoy themselves. The last thing they need is a wall of prohibitions before they’ve even crossed the threshold. Yet walk into a Samuel Smith’s pub, and you’re often greeted with more laminated A4 signs than a primary school corridor. “No phones.” “No laptops.” “No swearing.” “No music.” “No photos.” It’s a long list of rules before you’ve even ordered your drink.

Rules, Rules, Rules.

But tradition Shouldn’t Mean Inflexibility

I get the appeal of a digital detox (I enjoy them myself). But there’s a fundamental difference between offering a tech-free space and enforcing it with the threat of job loss or pub closure. That turns something potentially charming into something unsettling.

In an industry built on warmth, atmosphere, and human connection, can we really expect pubs to thrive by outlawing how people live, share, and communicate today?

There’s a fine line between being proudly independent and becoming aggressively insular. Pubs are not museums — they are living, breathing parts of their communities. When a single photo can shut one down, are we really building the “perfect pub,” or are we just creating places that feel increasingly disconnected from the real world?

What do you think?

Should more pubs take a stand against tech? Or is this approach a recipe for irrelevance and resentment? Let’s have a chat about it — no phones required…