Samuel Smith’s brewery has again increased its salary offer to attract live-in management couples to take on its many empty pubs.
The move comes as a much-loved village pub owned by the Tadcaster-based brewery has re-opened west of York.
The Sun Inn at Long Marston re-opened several weeks ago after a refurbishment and several years of closure.
The historic pub, close to the Marston Moor battlefield, is famous for being visited by Oliver Cromwell, which is reflected in its English Civil War themed interior.
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Staff at the Sun Inn declined to comment on the re-opening, but nearby residents are said to be ‘overjoyed’ to see the pub back open.
One told the Press: “It is great to see this lovely local back open. It has been closed for far too long. The Sun Inn is one of Sam Smith’s better pubs in a prime village centre spot, overlooking the Wetherby-York road, with a comfortable and very pleasant interior, ample parking and beer garden.
“Sam Smith’s produces great beers and at such good value. It is a shame the brewery has so many closed pubs, some of which have been closed for years, since before the pandemic.”
The Press understands the Sun Inn will shortly be serving food and that the Sam Smith’s owned Crown Inn in Wetherby is also undergoing refurbishment in preparation for re-opening.
Sam Smith’s Brewery, it is said, hopes to have this pub open before Wetherspoons opens at the nearby former Angel Hotel, also on High Street, Wetherby, in a multi-million refurbishment by ‘Spoons’ of what was previously the Sant’ Angelo Italian restaurant.
The Crown Inn at Wetherby is not currently listed in a roll-call of pubs listed on Gumtree, where Sam Smith’s Brewery is advertising for staff, suggesting managers may have been found for it.
The brewery is advertising 33 management couple vacancies in North Yorkshire, adding to many others across the UK, vacancies which were posted in March. Nationally, Sam Smith’s Brewery owns and operates around 200 pubs, including 20 in London.
A joint salary of £55,180 (£27,590 each) is now offered, plus accommodation and utilities paid. This compares with an advertised £51,700 for couples in February and £47,000 advertised in early 2024.
According to Gumtree, Sam Smith’s seeks live-in couple managers for venues including the Cricketers Arms, Selby; York Arms, York; Wellington Inn, Knaresborough; Tankard Inn, Rufforth; Shoulder of Mutton, Appleton Roebuck; Rose and Crown, Askham Richard; Railway Inn, Spofforth; Radcliffe Arms, Follifoot; New Inn, Stamford Bridge; Marquis of Granby, Knaresborough; Hare and Hounds, Stutton; Golden Ball, Scarborough; Jolly Sailor, Whitby; Fox and Hounds, Tadcaster; Cross Keys Inn, Stillingfleet; Crown Inn, Bolton Percy; Castle Inn, Sheriff Hutton; Buckles Inn, Askham Richard; Brown Cow, York; Commercial Hotel, Knaresborough; Blacksmith Arms, Skelton; Bay Horse, Tadcaster; Angel and White Horse, Tadcaster; Agar Arms, Warthill and The Ebor, Bishopthorpe.
