Jubilee Inn 1970s

Folkestone Herald 15-5-1971

Local News

When 1,400 continentals visit Folkestone next Thursday the doors of local pubs will be open to them all afternoon. On Tuesday local Magistrates decided in favour of a second application to allow 17 pubs to remain open especially for the visitors. They had vetoed a previous application. The second made by publicans was amended to allow for a half-hour break at 5.30 p.m. before their premises opened for the evening session.

Mr. J. Medlicott, for the publicans, told the Magistrates that the visitors were delegates attending a conference in Bruges. One of its highlights was to be a visit to England. He referred to a letter received by Folkestone Corporation from the British Tourist Authority supporting the publicans` application. The visit – by Dutch, Swiss, Belgians and Germans – was a special occasion, not just a shopping expedition, said Mr. Medlicott. It had been arranged by a Bruges tourist organisation which had particularly asked that pubs should be open in the afternoon.

Police Inspector R. Sanders made no formal objection to the application – but doubted whether the visit was a special occasion.

The Chairman of Folkestone Chamber of Trade, Mr. Alan Stephenson, said later “The cross-Channel visitors` committee of this Chamber is very pleased that this has been seen as a special occasion by the Justices. When one is reminded that this extension is no more than happens in many market towns every week of the year, it seems a fair request, especially as Folkestone’s image abroad could be much influenced by the original decision not to allow the pubs to open”.

The pubs which will stay open are; Jubilee, Ship, Oddfellows, Royal George, London and Paris, True Briton, Harbour Inn, Princess Royal, Clarendon, Brewery Tap, Earl Grey, Prince Albert, George, Globe, East Kent Arms, Guildhall and Shakespeare.

Folkestone Gazette 26-1-1977

Local News

Rebel landlord Ken Champion has hit out at Folkestone colleagues threatening to take action against brewers, Whitbread Fremlins. The 40 Whitbread tenant-licensees in Folke­stone, Sandgate and Hawkinge plan to refuse to sell wines, spirits and minerals marketed by the company. The sanctions will start if the brewers do not agree to consult tenants before price increases.

Mr. Champion, landlord of the Two Bells, in Canterbury Road, Folkestone, said last week “Sanctions are a lot of rubbish. I don’t agree with them. What difference does it make if you are forewarned about price increases?” But Mr. Champion added he would impose sanctions if asked to.

Angry pub tenants, fuming over two drinks price rises in January, are meeting Whitbreads on Tuesday. If agreement over prices and re-assessment of the pre­sent renting system is not reached, the sanctions will be imposed. Other sanctions include de­lays in paying brewery bills, using cheques rather than direct debit. Arrears will be paid quar­terly instead of weekly to hit the company’s balance books.

Mr. Vic Batten chairman of the Folkestone Whitbread Tenants’ Association, and landlord of the Jubilee Inn on The Stade, said “Every time a new increase is im­posed, pubs lose customers”.

A spokesman for Whit­bread said price increases were still behind inflation. “Duty is the main factor in the soaring costs”, he added.

Folkestone Herald 25-3-1978

Local News

Local publicans put all hands to the pumps this week in a bid to stem Folke­stone's wine bar boom. But their appeal against a drinks licence for a wine bar in Tontine Street, Folkestone, was thrown out at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday. Already there is one wine bar in the town, at Church Street, Folkestone, and an­other is planned for Sandgate Road. The publicans say wine bars affect their declining trade.

Mr. Vic Batten, vice-chairman of the Folkestone and District Licensed Vic­tuallers’ Association, and licensee of the Jubilee Inn in Folkestone Harbour, said his trade was affected by some of his customers going to a wine bar. “Folkestone’s popularity is waning and as a result, trade diminishing. I feel there are too many public houses in the town already”, he said.

Mr. Peter Philpott, of the Oddfellows Arms, in The Stade, said he saw no rea­son for a full licence to be granted to the new wine bar.

Mr. David Anderson, of The Clarendon, Tontine Street, said the venture would seriously affect his trade.

The publicans also said that Folkestone has reached saturation point and pubs’ trade is already being affec­ted by supermarkets and other retail outlets.

The application for a drinks licence, granted by Seabrook magistrates, was made by Mr. Michael Pat­ten who runs Oliver’s Discotheque and wants to open Oliver`s Wine Bar in Tontine Street It would be primarily a wine bar, he said, but he would sell other drinks for those who prefer it. “The prices of other drinks would be loaded to encourage people to drink wine and I feel there is a need for such a venture”, he told Mr. Recorder Michael West, Q.C. “We will also provide food, hot and cold, and are satisfying a demand. If I were to find demand for other drinks was greater than wine, it would be em­barrassing and I should have to try to meet these de­mands, but I hope this won’t happen”.

Mr. Recorder West dis­missed the appeal. He said he felt that if someone wanted to use a pub they would do so and the dif­ferent ventures could be complementary to each other.