If any beer was a crucial factor in my life from the "midwif

My great-grandfather, grandfather and parents were all devotees. Indeed, I was brought up to believe that the best pub in the world was the Edmunds Arms in Worsbrough village, South Yorkshire.

My father has hinted that my very conception may have been after a night out there. In that case being christened "Sam" would have been preferable to being named after the Duke of Edinburgh.

I realised that I had in fact never been to the Tadcaster brewery so I chose to remedy. that situation by a visit to this low-profile company.

I find Sam Smith's quite fascinating. It is run, some would say, in an autocratic manner, while others believe it to be a system of passionate paternalism operated by Humphrey Smith and brother Oliver.

It has astounded the industry by putting people before profits, holding prices (except for duty increases) for some 12 years, yet still having some of the finest pubs in the country.

I cited the case of Sam Smith's at the ALMR (Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers) seminar's discussion on minimum pricing in Manchester in September.

How could a local authority force the company to put up its prices to say £1.50p per pint? On what grounds? Disorder?

Does Sam Smith's have problems with 18-25 year olds? Yes, but only in that their pubs are of such a traditional standard and ambience that they don't always attract that age group.

My conclusion was that no authority could or should be able to force the company to increase its prices against its will.

Indeed, I would be amazed if they dared to try. In a Local Authority v Sam Smith's confrontation I know where my money would be placed.

The prices are amazing. Sitting in the excellent surrounds of the Edmunds Arms I was quaffing their cask ale sold a degree cooler than BBPA (British Beer & Pub Association) recommendation at all of £1.27 per pint.

There is, though, I have to confess a fine line between outstanding value and cheapness. I told my group that not only was this the best offer in Britain but the beer was made with the finest ingredients available.

I could sense disbelief that this could be the case. "You can't sell it that cheap and it be so delicious" was the general response. So, maybe there is an issue where this hallowed name of almost 250 years' standing is undermining itself.

There is no doubt in my mind a 10p per pint increase followed by another 10p would have no detrimental effect on sales.

Humphrey Smith is his own man and will no doubt completely ignore this advice, which will only result in me being able to continue to enjoy the superb food at pubs such as the Hare and Hounds at Stutton (near Tadcaster) with a pint of their finest for all of £1.40p.

Samuel Smith's is also famous for its refusal to have anything to do with national brands. There are no known named products to be found.

The lager is unpronounceable and everything from minerals to spirits is bespoke, but clearly vetted to ensure a quality of merchandise.

The only exception to this is in the nuts and crisps category where they offer McCoy's.

Bearing in mind the number of potato fields owned by Humphrey I was somewhat perplexed by this foreign invasion.

Clearly, I was looking confused.

"Something worrying you love?" asked my mother.

"The McCoy's crisps ­ I don't quite understand it," I replied.

"Mmm­ you would have thought they would have had Smith's and kept it in the family", she added.

Sam Smith's is a wonderful Yorkshire institution. They do it their way and nobody is going to change that philosophy.

Long may it continue.

Photo of MD paints a scary picture

Any visit to Asia, the former Soviet Union or indeed the Middle East will instantly make you aware of the cult of personality.

In the 1970s Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow would beam down from you in every station, bar or restaurant. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, does exactly the same throughout Turkey, as does Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt.

In our country there are the standard pictures of Lady Thatcher and Winston Churchill in most Conservative clubs. It is, though, almost a rarity to find any photos of anyone other than football stars in the British pub.

So I was somewhat staggered to discover on entering the Grape Vaults in Leominster a picture of Avebury Taverns' managing director David Myers on the wall of the bar.

"Bit of brown-nosing?" I enquired of the licensees Phil and Julie Saxon. "You got a rent review coming up?"

"Actually, no. We simply read David's My Shout on cask ale in the Morning Advertiser and we thought he was talking a lot of sense.

"We think it is good for our customers to see the views of the managing director of the company which owns their favourite watering hole.

"The recent Avebury/SIBA (Society for Independent Brewers) deal has proven very popular allowing us access to a wide range of niche and local cask ales."

But I was still somewhat puzzled. Here was a picture of the managing director on the wall, in a tenancy/leased pub and one not presenting the publican with an award. Can this be a first?