Licensees
Jason Anthony and Diane Bryant 1985 1987 Became Fifth Avenue
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| Photo from Folkestone Herald |
Folkestone Herald
2-8-1985
Advertising Feature
The heady fragrance of fine wine, smiling faces and a
long list of drinks mixes into a tasty cocktail bar at Ritzy`s. Ritzy`s wine
bar has opened in Sandgate Road, Folkestone, in premises once occupied by
distinguished wine merchants, Lukey`s. And the smell of port and claret
from times past gives the unique bar a special flavour.
Owners, Jason Anthony and Diane Bryant, spotted the empty shop earlier this year and
"It was love at first sight”. They have
had to spend a lot of money, obviously, to convert the shop into a bar, but in
very a subtle way have preserved the special character of the one time wine
shop. The panelled walls with mahogany fittings remain intact, as does the
original broad counter, raised just a few inches to accommodate elbows for bar
leaning. Either at the bar or sitting at tables customers will need time to
choose from the international selection of wines, spirits, lagers and beers –
and that`s only if you don`t feel like trying one of the cocktails. Ritzy`s
boast one of the largest selection and most original choice of cocktails
anywhere in the world. And where else could you find King Kong, Faye Wray and
Errol Flynn in quite such close proximity? The answer is at the cocktail bar at
the rear, where the Art Deco, movie star era of the thirties and early forties
has been reproduced. King Kong is described on the cocktail list as “A lethal
concoction that will have you climbing the Empire State Building; a Faye Wray, it warns, “Will have big apes fancying you”. But for those who wish to remain in one piece, a Black Russian,
Brandy Alexander, or a Harvey Wallbanger would be the wiser choice. Drivers are
also catered for with tasty sodas and shakes, ingeniously mixed. Food on a par
with the best pub fare is available with a speciality each day at competitive
prices. And vegetarians need not be shy. There is a menu just for you.
Ritzy’s is open lunchtimes and evenings
during normal pub hours.
Folkestone Herald
27-12-1985
Local News
The owners of Ritzy’s Wine Bar in Folkestone’s Sandgate Road are to be
allowed to have an additional bar on the first floor.
Folkestone Herald
23-1-1987
Local News
Ritzy`s Wine Bar in Folkestone became grapes of wrath when love turned
sour, a court heard this week. Instead of sparkling champagne, love’s cup was a bitter cocktail of
violence and recrimination between the Sandgate Road bar owners, Mr Jason
Anthony and his former girlfriend and business partner, Miss Diane Bryant.
Their stormy relationship was revealed to magistrates on Tuesday when
25-year-old Anthony, formerly of Athelstan Road, Folkestone, pleaded guilty to
assaulting 30-year-old Miss Bryant at her parents’ home last month. Wine bar
manager Anthony was originally charged with malicious wounding, but on Tuesday
at Folkestone Magistrates Court he pleaded Guilty to the lesser charge of
causing actual bodily harm. The more serious charge was dismissed. He was fined
£150 plus £20 costs. He told the court he was now unemployed.
The attack on Miss Bryant took place on the
Monday after Christmas at Linden Crescent, Folkestone, where she lived with her parents.
Anthony who gave an address at Temple Ewell near Dover admitted: Smashing a glass dish over his former
partner’s head; Punching
her in the mouth; Poking
fingers in her eyes; Repeatedly
punching her, causing cuts and bruises and two black eyes.
Solicitor Mr. Jim Morrison told Magistrates
that Anthony used force to defend himself when he went to visit Miss Bryant on
business. And he said his client had scars to prove that he had been victim of
violent assaults from her. The court was told that the couple ended their relationship 14 months
ago. Miss Bryant had bought out her partner and former boyfriend, but had
retained him as manager. Mr. Morrison said “The background is complicated. There was once a business as well as a loving
relationship. Miss
Bryant went on holiday and met a new man, who happened to come from this area.
He used to visit her on the premises, and Jason used to let him eat and drink there, hut on
one occasion he was severely provoked by the man. Miss Bryant was trying to get staff to side
with and support her - Jason found this intolerable. He decided to dismiss one
of the staff but Miss Bryant refused to let her go”, said Mr. Morrison. Jason went
round to Miss Bryant’s house and found her sitting on the floor, and she moved
as if to go for him. “He admits that he over-reacted and hit her with a glass bowl”, said the
solicitor.
Prosecuting, solicitor Mrs. Jackie Morey told
Magistrates “There have been assaults against her and on occasions police have
been called. She alleges she was punched and struck over the head. She had black eyes
and cuts and bruises. Her parents tried to restrain him and the police were called - it was an
unprovoked attack”, said Mrs. Morey.
Anthony, who was granted three months to pay
the fine, told the court “I am extremely sorry for what I have done - words
cannot change the past”.
Folkestone Herald
9-10-1987
Local News
Wine bar boss Jason Anthony has been found dead at his
home. Neighbours alerted police after hearing loud music from his flat all
night and through the morning. Officers found Mr. Anthony, 26, slumped in a
chair at the flat in Broadmead Road, Folkestone, last Thursday. Results of a
post mortem have been postponed pending further tests and an inquest has been
ordered.
Anthony and former girlfriend and business partner, Diane
Bryant, opened Ritzy`s Wine Bar in Sandgate Road in 1985 on the premises of the
former wine merchant`s, Lukey`s. But the business venture turned sour when Miss
Bryant, 30, and Anthony ended their relationship. Anthony appeared before
Folkestone Magistrates in January charged with causing Miss Bryant actual
bodily harm. He admitted smashing a glass dish over his former partner`s head,
punching her in the mouth, poking fingers in her eyes and repeatedly punching
her. He was fined £150 plus £20 costs. At the time Anthony commented “I am
extremely sorry for what I have done – words cannot change the past”.
Last month Mr. Anthony was with six men arrested by Dover police
climbing the White Cliffs near Dover Castle and tunnels into the former
Regional Seat of Government, contained in the cliffs. In the
incident an unnamed 26-year-old Folkestone man fell down the cliff. It has
since been confirmed that the injured man was Mr. Anthony. He was taken to
hospital before police officers could question him.
At the time of his death Mr. Anthony was manager of the Fifth Avenue
wine bar, the successor to Ritzy’s in Sandgate Road. When he
appeared in court earlier this year magistrates were told that while no longer
holding a financial interest in the business, Mr. Anthony had been re-employed
in the renamed business as a manager.
Folkestone Herald
23-10-1987
Local News
An inquest into the death of wine bar boss Jason Anthony
was expected to be opened and adjourned this week. Mr. Anthony, 26, was found
dead in his flat at Broadmead Road, Folkestone, on Thursday, October 1.
Neighbours called the police after hearing loud music playing in his home
throughout the previous night. Following a post mortem examination of his body,
pathologists said this week he died from inhalation of vomit and cardio-respiratory
failure. At the time of his death, Mr. Anthony was manager of the Fifth Avenue
wine bar in Sandgate Road, Folkestone.
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