I've just found this article that confirms much of the background to the Samuel Smith pub now called the Crown and Sugarloaf.
WHY PUNCH HAS SPLIT PERSONALITY
(Morning Advertiser 12/06/2003)
Alarming reports that a Fleet Street pub had closed its doors enabled Snifter to unearth the bizarre story of an alehouse with two owners.
The famous Punch Tavern building ? well known watering hole of many a journalist during the halcyon days when Fleet Street reigned supreme in the newspaper industry ? is apparently owned by both a brewer and a pub company.
While one half trades happily and successfully as a flagship venue for pub operator, Punch, the other half is closed and boarded up, courtesy of owner, North Yorkshire family brewer, Sam Smith's.
The two-way split is down to a complicated series of lease agreements on the premises over the years, which now sees the property sub-divided.
"The other half has been closed for a good five years," said a Punch insider. "We have attempted to buy it in the past but have never got anywhere."
The pub is named after the legendary cartoon character and provided pubco Punch with the inspiration for its name when the company was launched following its acquisition of the old Bass leased pub estate.
Snifter was contacted by the daughter of former landlord, William White, who ran the Punch back in the 1930s. She visited the site recently and thought all of the building had closed down.
Snifter is happy to reassure her that the beer is still flowing at her dad's old stamping ground.
