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Renamed in 1956 after the famous doctor, John Snow, who proved the connection between cholera and contaminated water. Until then (mid-1850s) cholera had been thought caused by "miasma" or bad air. By removing the water pump handle in the street a few yards away, Snow proved statistically that contaminated water must be the cause. Snow's portrait on the pub sign looks fairly disapproving but at least he might like the fact that the beers that are sold, are pasteurised! A corner pub with trademark Sam Smith's woody feel and etched glass. Lounge upstairs and a duck-under between the two ground-floor bars. No cask ale is served.
Patrons should note that there is a strict "no swearing" policy in Samuel Smith's establishments. Also by decision of the brewery owner, customers may not use mobile phones (except for payments), laptops or similar inside the pub; tablets and iPads are prohibited inside or outside. The brewery's policy is that its pubs are for social conversation person to person.
Historic Interest
In 1801 just down the road at numbers 49 & 50 a brewery started up under the name Lion Brewery, which grew over the next few decades to be a very substantial industrial operation in the heart of the West End. Its workers naturally drank beer not water and were unaffected by the cholera, giving John Snow a strong clue as to the cause of the disease.
John Snow, London