The fact the brewery owns “virtually all” its venues is a huge advantage, Nick Love, pub protection officer from York Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) explains.
“All the elements are there for it to be an absolutely sensational offering, with a great brewery, great beer, and fantastic pubs,” he says.
“You just need the alchemy to work.”
He described Smith as “a larger that life figure” often referred to as “a titan of the brewing industry”.
Allowing for nuance in policies and reopening many of the long-mothballed pubs, especially those in rural communities, is his hope for the brewery’s new era.
“You walk into a pub, you want to feel welcome, to feel you can sit down, you can be yourself,” he says.
“Pubs are under an existential threat at the moment. There’s a lot of pubs now that are shutting in villages, and it’s catastrophic for social wellbeing.
“Any that are opening are very welcome. I think when we can see those opening then there’s a chink of light there.”
The brewery has yet to comment on Smith’s death directly.