Simon Chase

Each issue we’ll speak to a leading industry figure about his business. First up, Dave Broom speaks to Simon Chase of Hunters & Frankau

You always remember the first time. I hadn’t been long in journalism when it was decided that it was high time we ran a cigar feature.

Fine by me. I’d sold Havanas in a previous existence at Oddbins, I’d even smoked one or two. I turned up at Hunters & Frankau’s offices and was ushered in to meet the marketing director. “Hello Dave,” he said. “Fancy a Cohiba?”. Espresso at elbow, cigar in one hand, pen in the other. I had arrived. This was the life. A few minutes into the interview, he leans over and says ever so gently. “You’ve got a terrible light on that. Allow me.”

I had been wondering why while he was drawing on his cigar in a leisurely fashion I was on the verge of fainting with the effort. There followed a quick lesson in the art of lighting, smoking and appreciating cigars.

It was all done with charm, patience and no shortage of laughs. I left a cigar convert. In the words of a London bartender friend, I’d been ‘Chased’. Hunters & Frankau’s marketing director has been the public face of Habanos in the UK since 1977.

Under his tutelage retailers, bartenders, sommeliers and cigar enthusiasts have learned the complexities of cigars. There have been dinners, auctions, and books not to mention initiatives such as the Hunters & Frankau Cigar School and the creation of the Specialist in Habanos marque. Yet the world of tobacco wasn’t Simon Chase’s first career.

His earliest cigar memories were of the humidor being brought out at the end of meetings at the various advert.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Dave Broom

Section : Cigar Interviews

Page number : 14

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 1 on 01/06/2004.

This article is 100 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	Simon Chase Each issue we’ll speak to a leading industry figure about his business. First up, Dave Broom speaks to Simon Chase of Hunters & Frankau You always remember the first time. I hadn’t been long in journalism when it was decided that it was high time we ran a cigar feature. Fine by me. I’d sold Havanas in a previous existence at Oddbins, I’d even smoked one or two. I turned up at Hunters & Frankau’s offices and was ushered in to meet the marketing director. “Hello Dave,” he said. “Fancy a Cohiba?”. Espresso at elbow, cigar in one hand, pen in the other. I had arrived. This was the life. A few minutes into the interview, he leans over and says ever so gently. “You’ve got a terrible light on that. Allow me.” I had been wondering why while he was drawing on his cigar in a leisurely fashion I was on the verge of fainting with the effort. There followed a quick lesson in the art of lighting, smoking and appreciating cigars. It was all done with charm, patience and no shortage of laughs. I left a cigar convert. In the words of a London bartender friend, I’d been ‘Chased’. Hunters & Frankau’s marketing director has been the public face of Habanos in the UK since 1977. Under his tutelage retailers, bartenders, sommeliers and cigar enthusiasts have learned the complexities of cigars. There have been dinners, auctions, and books not to mention initiatives such as the Hunters & Frankau Cigar School and the creation of the Specialist in Habanos marque. Yet the world of tobacco wasn’t Simon Chase’s first career. His earliest cigar memories were of the humidor being brought out at the end of meetings at the various advert..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By Dave Broom Section : Cigar Interviews Page number : 14 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 1 on 01/06/2004. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 100 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2012. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.