I was in town today and thought I would treat myself to some Smith and Sons snuff. When I arrived, it seems that the shop has been repossessed by the landlords and Smith and Sons is no more. There is a Bailiffs note pasted to the door and the shop is empty. Sorry to see this shop go, even though it has been a shadow of it’s former self for the last few years.
Thanks for the information, but I’m not surprised. If this had have append a few years ago I would have said this is a black day for snuff.
I noticed it was shut a couple of weeks ago, and wasn’t surprised. I worked nearby for nearly a decade, until five years ago, and it was convenient, even helpful on occasion, but the staff were sometimes hard work and the prices rarely tempting.
I guess that, surrounded by the bars and clubs of Soho, they made most of their money on cigars and the prohibition will have hit them hard. But there’s been a lot of ‘redevelopment’ around the Charing Cross Road, and that always makes landlords think about raising the rent or terminating the lease. Many of London’s more pleasant shops have been done that way.
However, with the resurgence in snuff, it could be a golden opportunity for a motivated and energetic entrepreneur. Despite the rumours about London’s weather, it’s substantially better than Berwick’s.
From what I understand, most of the traditional London Tobacconists are reporting good sales and The Smoking Jacket in Earls Court is going from strength to strength and now carries our whole range.
There’s another bit on my own personal history vanished from sight then.
Very sad. I guess that’s one less place to visit now, or have any hope for.
It’s been dying on its feet for years. perhaps there IS some chance that it will be snapped up and turned into a great purveyor of baccy things again.
I wonder where their stock and loads of memorebelia have gone.
Awaiting some sort of glorious resurrection hopefully.
Fribourg & Treyer suffered death by the long-drop; Smiths by slow strangulation. The shop was only a shadow of its former self after genteel Vivian Rose retired - and the prices were outrageous. Even so, it’s sad news to hear about the closure of a business that has been operating from the same premises since 1869. And what of the Highlander. For one hundred and forty two years, like a sentinel, he faced the shop door, witnessing the entry of the great and humble from Victoria’s reign to the twilight of Elizabeth II. Think of the ghosts that would appear if the images reflected in his painted eyes came back, much as the sea is said to eventually return the drowned from their watery graves. Perhaps though, after his long vigil, he could do with a change of scenery. The F&T brand is now owned by Wilsons of Sharrow. The next question is what happens to Smith’s snuffs?
@PhilipS that third paragraph was very poetic!
Well, to be honest, Jackpot, Smith’s Highlander was a bit of a runt compared to the manly mien of other effigies, but it’s still a sad loss. J&H Wilsons had a superb one-armed Highlander. He originally stood outside a shop in Portsmouth, but was kidnapped by sailors. On hearing that Lord Nelson had lost his right arm in in 1797, the sailors similarly mutilated their Highlander. That, at least, was the story one heard when Westbrook was open to the public.
Would you consider writing a book on the topic of snuff? Your knowledge and writing skills would surely turn this project into an instant bestseller (at least inside the snuff community) and a wonderful testimonial for generations to come.
Second that.
I’d definitely like to read that book.
@PhilipS You could write something for the snuff taker’s ephermis. I’m sure they would include it in the next issue.
Granted, I’m new to all this, but there does seem to be a very secretive, almost clandestine, world to snuff. What with all the mystery with regards who makes what for whom. This and the tread about Viking emphasise this. One would have thought in a world as small (relatively) as the world of snuff, a little more openness would be a good thing, at the end of the day, we’re going to buy it, whoever makes it. It baffles me a little.
It shouldn’t when making a contract blend the person it’s for doesn’t want to give too much advertisement to another company especialy if they ever switch who makes it for them. Also the it could hurt the sales of the other brands they sell which the other brands may not like. There is more too it then that. But thats standard with contract brands of all sorts.
A true shame. If Smiths had been bought by the right people with the right ethos this landmark in Snuff’s history could have gone strong for many years.
@Talljim - I have been saying that for years. The silly closet world of contract brands and concoctions like ‘Jaxons’ passed off as new snuffs. The need for it has always baffled me as I like to see who makes the products I spend my money on - especially if I’m buying something new. Jaxons from Gawith I would have absolutely no issue with, jaxons by the new snuff company jaxons, as implied, just seems like some species of fraud.
Oh, that’s so sad to hear this news.
I used to take phone orders for snuff from Vivien Rose, with his smooth distinct voice, I could always tell it was him, he looked very distinguished too I could just imagine him working at the shop at ‘84 Charing Cross Road’. He once visited us at Westbrook Mill I recall. It was nice to have a retailer in the heart of London and it seems so sad. I think there’s something on youtube about the shop with Stephen Fry if you google it.
I would love to have a look at the merchandise in there bound to be something from J & H Wilsons. Yes the snuff boy, (highlander, known as snuff boys) what will become of him? That’s what saddens me the most all that history, where will it do to who will know it’s story in the future? We had about 15 snuff boys upstairs on the corridor, very erie but I often wonder where they all went to, there was even one of Joan of Arc!