I too was customer of Smith's Snuff Shop in the 1980's and it is sad to hear that it has gone down. Reading these comments brought it all back; the lamp to light your cigar, the cool counter and many different kinds of snuff for sale. The situation has been going on all over London for many years. Even though I left London in the late 90s, even before then, there were so many places of interest that have been transformed in to shopping malls. For this reason I like going North away from all the urban crap to see and feel real English and Scottish life. At least the memories are in my head will never die. I can remember just how nice that little shop was and it really is a shame there is not some kind of committe that protects English culture and heritage the way so many other protects theirs. That is what happens when you are off the "Agenda" radar.

I too was left disappointed by my visit some months back; and left with much the same opinion as yourself. I also thought their snuff was overpriced, and the tin of Cafe Royale I bought was not even full!!!

Hi Snuffman I saw this shop featured on the TV show 'Disappearing London' Suggs went in there with Stephen Fry and tried out some snuff. I was planning to go there this weekend with a friend to look at getting a nice snuff box and maybe a hanky but after reading your review i'm having second thoughts as its quite a trek for me... Perhaps I'll go in all the same in case the shop assistant was having an off day but i'll let you know how I got on in the place. Can anyone recommend a really decent tobacconist in the London (or at least South England) area which sells decent snuff? Cheers

I went into this shop on Saturday, and the man within seemed perfectly pleasant and helpful. It may seem a bit silly to complain about a shop's selection of snuff, given that I am lucky that they stock any at all, but I didn't find anything that I really wanted, and it was rather overpriced. This shop is, for the information of any prospective visitors, around the corner from the Harp (on Chandos St.), which serves excellent cider and perry, one of the few places in central London to do so!

I remember using this place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when their own-brand range of snuffs was wonderful, and when a small team of a couple of knowledgeable older gents and an enthusiastic slightly younger chap were always happy to be patient with the novice punter as well as pandering to the more experienced sniffer. I also remember them for some fine, own-brand pipe tobaccos. I walked past the shop late last year [December 2007] and thought it had turned into a somewhat excessively up-market cigar emporium. I simply put this down as another depressing sign-of-the-times, and considered only very briefly that I am, perhaps, a step closer to "middle age"!

Hello snuff takers of the world Prior to leaving the UK in 2007 I was a regular buyer of snuff at Smiths. I always found the manager, a fellow called Jeremy, to be courteous and up for a tobacco related chat - particularly in the afternoons as I think he often enjoys a liquid lunch. There were a couple of younger staff members who I found to be generally polite and reasonably knowledgable across the range of tobacco products although I don't think any of the staff actually use snuff. I was disappointed to learn of Snuffman's experience and think there must have been a rogue shop assistant on duty that day. I do not believe that the current owners of Smiths are descendents of the original Messrs Smith & Sons - the operation of the business is primarily a commercial enterprise rather than a passion. When I last had a chat with Jeremy he had given up cigarettes and was using NRT (patches)which for a tobacconist could be interpreted as a lack of commitment. It is akin to meeting a publican at an AA meeting - get a grip of yourself Jeremy. I am a fan of Smith & Sons snuffs - which I think are produced for them by Samuel Gawith under contract. I have tried all of their snuff offerings and would recommend them to any snuff taker. Cafe Royale is a joy & the Attar of Roses, whilst a bit girly, is a delicious and robustly fragrant toot. Best wishes - Ozsnuff.

I am a pipe smoker, and so couldn't comment on their snuff stock. I visit the shop regularly and am always satisfied with the service, bar the once when a gentleman I didn't recognise was in charge and admittedly he was most uncharismatic. I would say give it another try.

Yep, my last visit to the shop left me quite angry. The guy behind the counter was not just unhelpful, but actually unpleasant. What a pity. 'Cafe Royal' used to be my snuff of choice.