Brewery Tap 1900 - 1904

Folkestone Chronicle 27-1-1900

Wednesday, January 24^th: Before Alderman Spurgen, Col. Westropp, and Col. Hamilton.

Mr. Thomas (sic), late of the Castle, Sandgate, applied for confirmation of the licence of the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street, which was granted.

Folkestone Express 27-1-1900

Wednesday, January 24^th: Before Alderman Spurgen and Lieut. Col. Hamilton.

William Thomason, late of the Castle Inn, Sandgate, applied for a transfer of the licence for the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street, Folkestone.

The Bench granted the application, Supt. Reeve raising no objection to it.

Folkestone Herald 27-1-1900

Folkestone Police Court

On Wednesday Mr. William Thomas Thomason was granted a temporary authority to sell at the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street.

Folkestone Express 10-3-1900

Wednesday, February 7^th: Before J. Fitness, C.J. Pursey, W. Wightwick, and J. Pledge Esqs.

William T. Tomlinson (sic) applied for a licence for the Brewery Tap in Tontine Street. The Bench granted it.

Folkestone Herald 10-3-1900

Folkestone Police Court

On Wednesday, the following transfer was granted: Imperial Brewery, Tontine Street, to Mr. W.T. Thomason.

Folkestone Express 28-6-1902

Monday, June 23^rd: Before W. Wightwick, G. Swoffer, and W.G. Herbert Esqs., and Lieut. Colonel Hamilton.

Thomas Isherwood, a private in the North Lancashire Regiment, was charged with stealing a glass, valued at fourpence, from the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street.

Detective Sergeant Burniston said he was outside the Queen`s Hotel on Saturday night about eleven o`clock, when he saw prisoner, with several other soldiers, go past. His suspicions were aroused by the bulky appearance of prisoner`s pocket. On lifting up the tunic, he found the glass produced. Witness asked prisoner where he got it from, and he replied “Someone must have put it in my pocket”. On taking prisoner to the police station, he said “I took it from a house a few yards from here”. Witness made enquiries, and the landlord of the Brewery Tap, Mr. Thomason, and the barman, accompanied him to the police station. On charging the prisoner with stealing the glass, he replied “I did not steal it from the Brewery Tap. I took it from the Lord Nelson”.

Prisoner said he did not use those words, but said “I have been to the Lord Nelson”.

Mr. W.T. Thomason identified prisoner as a man who came into his house about 10.45 p.m. on Saturday. He also identified the glass produced as his property, and valued it at 4d.

Prisoner, who has been in the service seven months, said he did not know how the glass came into his possession.

The Bench dealt with the case under the First Offenders Act, and fined prisoner one shilling and no costs.

Folkestone Herald 28-6-1902

Monday, June 23^rd: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Councillor Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Alderman Herbert, and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.

Thomas Isherwood, a private in the North Lancashire Militia, was charged with stealing an ale glass, the property of Mr. Thomason, of the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street.

Detective Burniston stated that at 11 p.m. on Saturday night he saw prisoner with some other soldiers by the Queen`s Hotel. He noticed that he had something concealed under his coat. Witness stopped him, lifted up his coat, and found the glass (produced). He took prisoner to the station.

Mr. Thomason, landlord of the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street, said the prisoner was in his house on Saturday night. He identified the glass (produced) as belonging to him. He valued it at 4d.

A barman in the employ of Mr. Thomason also gave evidence.

Prisoner was fined 1s. 

Folkestone Chronicle 5-7-1902

Wednesday, July 2^nd: Before Messrs. W. Wightwick, W.G. Herbert, and C.J. Pursey.

George Ealy was fined 2s. 6d. with 10s. costs for being drunk in the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street, on the 19^th of June.

Folkestone Express 5-7-1902

Wednesday, July 2^nd: Before W. Wightwick, W.G. Herbert, and C.J. Pursey Esqs.

George Ealy was summoned for being drunk on the licensed premises known as the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street.

Inspector Lilley said on the 19^th of last month, at a few minutes to eleven, he saw defendant and another man come out of the Clarendon Hotel. The manager came out, and the men appeared to be having a quarrel. They went along Tontine Street and entered the Brewery Tap. Witness followed them, accompanied by P.C. Nash, with the intention of cautioning the landlord. When he looked inside defendant had a glass of ginger wine, but he was so drunk he could not hold the glass to his mouth, but kept spilling the contents over the counter.

P.C. Nash corroborated.

Defendant said he did not know he was drunk. The other man had more sense than he had. He proved he was not drunk. (Laughter) He had been for two years at the front with the Royal Engineers, and had not had anything to drink for that time. He got home all right if he was drunk.

A fine of 2s. 6d. and 10s. costs was imposed.

Folkestone Express 8-11-1902

Saturday, November 1^st: Before Aldermen Penfold and Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Westropp, and J. Stainer Esq.

Chas. Henry Dennett was charged with being drunk and disorderly.

P.C. Watson said about 9.35 the previous night he was in Tontine Street and saw prisoner outside the Brewery Tap. As he was using obscene language and refused to go away, witness took him into custody. He then became very violent, and had to be handcuffed and strapped on to an ambulance wagon before he could be  brought to the police station.

Fined 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs; in default seven days` imprisonment.

Folkestone Herald 5-7-1902

Tuesday, July 1^st: Before Mr. Wightwick, and Aldermen Herbert and Salter.

George Ealy was summoned or being drunk on the premises of the Brewery Tap.

Inspector Lilley said that he saw defendant and another man come out of the Clarendon Hotel. They then went into the Brewery Tap. Witness, accompanied by P.C. Nash, went into the house with the intention of cautioning the landlord. He said the defendant had a glass of ginger wine and was so drunk that he spilt it over the counter.

P.C. Nash corroborated.

Defendant said he did not know he was drunk. He had been with the Royal Engineers at the front, and had not had anything to drink for two years.

Fined 2s. 6d. and 10s. costs.

Folkestone Chronicle 7-3-1903

Adjourned Licensing Sessions.

On Wednesday morning the large hall at the Folkestone Town hall was crowded to excess by temperance people, publicans, “trade” sympathisers, and some hundreds of the neutral public, to witness the anticipated legal combat over licensing matters in the borough. The Court presented a very animated appearance. On the Bench were Mr. W. Wightwick, Colonel Hamilton, Mr. W.G. Herbert, Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. J. Pledge, Lieut. Col. Westropp, and Mr. C.J. Pursey. Facing the Bench were a noble array of legal luminaries, including Mr. Lewis Glyn K.C., and Mr. Percival Hughes, instructed respectively by Mr. Martin Mowll and Mr. G. Haines, to represent the applicants in the cases of opposed old licences; Mr. Thomas Matthew and Mr. Thorn Drury, instructed by Mr. Minter, representing new applicants; and Mr. Montague Bradley, solicitor, who held a watching brief for the Temperance Council. The Chief Constable, Mr. Harry Reeve, was present conducting the opposition. These gentlemen were flanked by the Press on one side, and on the other by either the principals or representatives of the various breweries having interests in the town, such as Messrs. Leney, Mackeson, Nalder and Colyer, Flint, G. Beer, etc.

The Chairman, in opening the Court, said that 23 full licences stood adjourned since the previous Court. Since the adjournment, enquiries had been made, and from those enquiries the Chief Constable was instructed to persevere in the objection against nine houses, viz.: The Providence, Mr. Arthur F. East; Marquis Of Lorne, Wm. R. Heritage; Granville, Charles Partridge; Victoria, Alfred Skinner; Tramway, Fredk. Skinner; Hope, Stephen J. Smith; Star, Ernest Tearall; Bricklayers Arms, Joseph A. Whiting; and Blue Anchor, Walter Whiting. From a recent inspection of those houses, however, the Bench had decided to withdraw the objections against the Victoria, the Hope, and the Blue Anchor, and proceed with the remainder. Regarding the 17 houses which would that day have their licences renewed without opposition, the Bench had decided to deal with them at the 1904 Sessions according to the then ruling circumstances. The Bench desired to warn Mrs. Brett, of the Swan Hotel, as to her husband`s conduct of the business. In the cases of the London And Paris, the Imperial Hotel, the Mechanics Arms, and those houses against which convictions were recorded, it was the desire of the Bench to warn the various landlords that any further breach of the licensing laws would place their licences seriously in jeopardy. With respect to the Imperial Tap (sic), the Castle, and those houses which had been originally objected to for structural alterations to be made, the Bench now renewed the licences on the condition that the order made as to the various alterations should be carried out in 14 days. It was the wish of the Bench that the general warning should also apply to the beerhouses under the Act of 1869.

Coming to the licences in the old portion of the town, the Bench were of opinion that they were out of all proportion to the population, and it was the purpose of the Bench to obtain information before the 1904 Sessions which would lead to their reduction. In the meantime, the Bench invited the brewers and owners to co-operate with the Magistrates in arriving at the mode of the reduction. Failing that, the Justices would take the matter into their own hands, and, he hoped, arrive at conclusions on a fair and equitable basis. (Hear, hear)

Mr. Lewis Glyn K.C. at once asked the Bench to withdraw their opposition to all the opposed licences this year. With the whole of his learned friends, he thought he was right in saying that in view of legislation in the coming year it would be fairer to the Trade to wait until 1904 before taking any drastic action. He would submit that because a neighbourhood happened to be congested, it was hardly fair to take away one man`s living and to hand it over to another, which such a proceeding practically meant.

The Chairman said the Bench would note Counsel`s observations, but the applications must proceed in the usual way.

Folkestone Herald 7-3-1903

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

The Adjourned Licensing Sessions for the Borough of Folkestone were held in the Town hall on Wednesday. In view of the opposition by the police to a number of the existing licences extraordinary interest was evinced in the meeting, and when the proceedings commenced at eleven o`clock in the morning there was a very large attendance, the “trade” being numerously represented. Representatives of the Folkestone Temperance Council and religious bodies in the town were also present, prominent amongst them being Mr. J. Lynn, Mrs. Stuart, and the Rev. J.C. Carlile. Prior to the commencement of business the Licensing Justices held a private meeting amongst themselves. When the doors were thrown open to the public there was a tremendous rush for seats. The Justices present were the following:- Mr. W. Wightwick, Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Mr. J. Pledge, Lieut. Col. Westropp, and Mr. C.J. Pursey.

Before proceeding with the business, the Chairman announced that at the Annual Licensing Meeting the Justices adjourned the renewal of 23 full licences and five on beer licences, and directed the Chief Constable to give notice of objection to the owners of the licences of the following nine houses:- Providence (Arthur F. East); Marquis Of Lorne (William R. Heritage); Granville (Charles Partridge); Victoria (Alfred Skinner); Tramway (Frederick Skinner); Hope (Stephen J. Smith); Star (Ernest Tearall); Bricklayers Arms (Joseph A. Whiting); and Blue Anchor (Walter Whiting). Since the former sessions the Justices had inspected all the houses objected to, and considered the course which they ought to pursue with respect to the same, with the result that they had directed the Chief Constable to withdraw the notices of objection served by him with respect of the Victoria, Hope, and Blue Anchor, and to persist in the opposition to the following:- Providence, Marquis Of Lorne, Granville, Tramway, Star, and Bricklayers Arms. As regarded the remaining 15 full licences and five beer licences they would renew the same this year, and deal with them next year according to the circumstances.

With respect to the Packet Boat, the Brewery Tap, and the Castle they ordered the back entrances of the licensed premises to be closed within 14 days from this date.

Folkestone Express 31-10-1903

Wednesday, October 28^th: Before E.T. Ward and Lieut. Col. Fynmore.

Harry Johnson and William Quintet, who did not appear, were summoned for being drunk on licensed premises.

P.C. Sales deposed that about 9.30 p.m. on the 24^th inst., he was on duty in Tontine Street, where he saw defendants in company with several other men in a drunken condition. He had occasion to speak to Johnson for using bad language. The men then went to the Brewery Tap, but were refused drink. About 9.40 they went to the London and Paris Hotel. Witness followed and told the barmaid not to let the men have drink. He then took their names and told them that he should report them. They were both drunk when served with the summons.

Fined 5s. and 9s. costs, or seven days` hard labour.

Folkestone Chronicle 13-2-1904

Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 10^th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Alderman Herbert, Lieut. Cols. Fynmore, Westropp, and Hamilton, Messrs. C.J. Pursey and E.T. Ward.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve) read his annual report, which contained interesting figures with regard to drunkenness, etc. No person in Folkestone had yet been convicted a sufficient number of times to be placed on the “black list”. The Chief Constable objected to the renewal of the licence of the Swan Inn, Dover Road, and asked that the consideration of this licence might be deferred until the adjourned sessions.

The Chairman then read the Justices` Report, which stated that the number of licensed houses in Folkestone, and especially around the harbour, was out of all proportion to the population. The number of licences had not been reduced, owing to the fact that a Bill amending the Licensing Laws was shortly to be introduced in Parliament. Certain public houses – the Imperial Brewery Tap, the Hope, the East Cliff Tavern, the Victoria, the Lifeboat Inn, the Duke Of Edinburgh, and the Channel Inn had been inspected by the Justices, and recommendations with regard to their sanitary improvement and closing of back entries were made.

Mr. John Minter said that water had been laid on at the Channel Inn since the report on the bad state of the sanitary arrangements. Mr. Minter also suggested with regard to the Imperial Brewery Tap that a public bar should be made with an entrance from Mill Bay.

The Bench decided, however, that the orders made in the report should be adhered to.

Licences were then granted to the lessees of public houses and licensed premises.

Mr. Minter applied for full licences for Mr. W.T. Tame and Mr. Gregory, but no new facts were forthcoming and the Bench declined to grant them, stating that they would grant no new licences this year.

 

Folkestone Express 13-2-1904

Annual Licensing Meeting

Wednesday, February 10^th: Before W. Wightwick Esq., Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Colonel Westropp, and W.G. Herbert, E.T. Ward, and C.J. Pursey Esqs.

The following was the report of Supt. Reeve: Chief Constable`s Office, Folkestone, 10<sup>th</sup> February, 1904. To the Chairman and Members of the Licensing Committee of the Borough of Folkestone. Gentlemen, I have the honour to report for your information that there are at present within your jurisdiction 139 premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors, namely: Full licences 87; Beer on 11; Beer off 6; Beer and Spirits (dealers) 16; Grocers 12; Confectioners 3; Chemists 4; Total 139 – an average of one licence to every 220 persons, or one “on” licence to every 313. This is a decrease of one full licence as compared with last year`s return, the licence of the Marquis Of Lorne having been refused at the adjourned meeting in March. Twenty of the licences have been transferred during the year, namely, 14 full licences, two beer on, two beer off, and two grocers. One beer off licence was transferred twice during the year. One licence holder has been convicted since the last annual meeting of committing drunkenness on his licensed premises. He has since transferred his licence and left the house. The alterations which the Justices at the adjourned meeting last year directed to be made to the Packet Boat, Castle, Tramway, Bricklayers` Arms, Granville, and Star Inns have all been carried out in a satisfactory manner, and none of the licensed houses are now used as common lodging houses. Ten occasional licences, and extensions of hours on 21 occasions, have been granted to licence holders during the year. There are 14 places licensed for music and dancing, and two for public billiard playing. Eleven clubs where intoxicating liquors are sold are registered in accordance with the Licensing Act of 1902. For the year ending 31^st December last year, 154 persons (131 males and 23 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness. 131 were convicted and 23 discharged. This is an increase of 65 persons proceeded against, and 51 convicted, as compared with 1902. The increase is chiefly due to the additional powers given to the police under the Licensing Act, 1902. Up to the present time no person within the Borough has been convicted the necessary number of times within the 12 months to be placed on the “black list” as provided by Section 6 of the Act of 1902. With very few exceptions the whole of the licensed houses have been conducted in a satisfactory manner. The only objection I have to make to the renewal of any of the present licences is that of the Swan Inn, Dover Road, and I would ask that the renewal of this licence be deferred until the adjourned meeting. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, H. Reeve (Chief Constable).

The Chairman: I think, gentlemen, you will agree that the report of the Superintendent is a satisfactory one – in fact, I may say very satisfactory – for the whole year. With your permission I well read the report we now make to you. At the adjournment of the last general licensing meeting we stated that in our opinion the number of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor then existing in the borough of Folkestone, especially in the part of the immediate neighbourhood of the Harbour, was out of all proportion to the population, and that we proposed between then and the general annual licensing meeting of this year to obtain information on various matters, to enable us to determine what reduction would be made in the number of licences. We invited the owners of licensed houses in the meantime to meet and agree among themselves for the voluntary surrender at this general meeting of a substantial number of licences in the borough, and to submit the result of their united action to the Licensing Justices for acceptance. Failing any satisfactory proposal for reduction by the owners, the Licensing Justices last year intimated that in the exercise of their discretionary powers they would at this year`s meeting decide in a fair and equitable spirit what reduction should be made. But at the opening of Parliament last week it was announced in the King`s speech that the Government intended to introduce in the House of Commons during the present session a Bill to amend the Licensing Laws. In view of this legislation we are of opinion we ought not, pending the passage of this Bill through Parliament, exercise the discretionary powers vested in us, and take measures for effecting a further reduction in the number of licences within the borough on the ground that certain licensed premises are not required for the public accommodation. We have recently inspected certain houses known as the Imperial Brewery Tap, the Hope, East Cliff Tavern, Victoria, Lifeboat, Duke Of Edinburgh, Railway Tavern, and Channel Inn.

As regards the Brewery Tap, we recall the fact that at the general annual licensing meeting for 1903, we ordered the back entrance leading from the licensed premises into Mill Bay to be closed within fourteen days. Although this order has not been drawn up or served on the owners and occupier, they gave notice of appeal on the grounds, inter alia, that such order was illegal, and that we had no power to make the same. Since then the King`s Bench Division has decided the case of “Bushell v Hammond”, that Justices have jurisdiction under the Licensing Act of 1902, to order the closing of a gate leading into the back yard of licensed premises, though no intoxicating liquors were consumed at such gates, or in the passage leading thereto. We therefore now direct that the holder of the licence of the Imperial Brewery Tap shall, within 14 days from this date, build up the back entrance from the passage in the rear of the licensed premises to Mill Bay. The existence of this doorway renders it difficult for the police to exercise adequate supervision over the licensed premises.

Folkestone Herald 13-2-1904

Tuesday, February 9^th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Alderman W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Colonels Hamilton, Fynmore, and Westropp, Messrs. J. Ward and C.J. Pursey.

Annual Licensing Sessions

The Chief Constable first presented his annual report (for which, see Folkestone Express 13-2-04).

The Chairman then addressed his colleagues (for which, see Folkestone Express 13-2-04).

As regards the Imperial Brewery Tap, and the closing of its back entrance, he could bring evidence then to show that that might be converted into a proper state by bringing the house back into the Mill Bay, so that the back part would become a complete part of the house itself.

The Bench decided to keep to the order they had made.

Folkestone Express 26-3-1904

Saturday, March 19^th: Before E.T. Ward, J. Stainer, and T.J. Vaughan Esqs., and Lieut. Colonels Westropp and Fynmore.

Robert Hugh Ellender was charged with assaulting Mr. A Thomason, a publican, and also with using obscene language. The charges were taken separately.

Mr. Thomason said at 7.30 on Sunday evening the defendant was using the lavatory for an improper purpose, and when remonstrated with he used abusive language, and struck witness. Defendant had since called upon him and apologised, and therefore he did not wish to press the charge.

Defendant was dismissed on paying 9s. costs.

The charge of using obscene language in Tontine Street was then proceeded with. Defendant pleaded Guilty. It appeared that a constable was accosted by the complainant in the former case, who said that the defendant had assaulted him. Defendant then used filthy language.

Fined 5s., and 9s. costs, or seven days`.

Folkestone Herald 26-3-1904

Saturday, March 19^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. J. Stainer, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Lieut. Colonel Fynmore, and Lieut. Colonel Westropp.

Robert Hugh Ellender was summoned by William Thomas Thomason, landlord of the Brewery Tap, Tontine Street, for assault.

Complainant said that at 9.30 on the evening of the 13^th inst. he saw defendant at the rear of his premises. When he spoke to him Ellender used obscene language. As defendant refused to give him his name and address, witness went into the street and waited until a constable came along. Defendant then attempted to strike witness, but the constable caught hold o his arm. Since the affair happened, Ellender had called on him and expressed sorrow for what he had done, so he (witness) did not wish to press the case.

Defendant was let off on paying 9s. costs.

The Chief Constable said there was a second summons brought against defendant by the police, for using obscene language.

For this Ellender was fined 5s., with 9s. costs.

Folkestone Express 19-11-1904

Saturday, November 12^th: Before The Mayor, Ald. Spurgen, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, W.G. Herbert and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Dangerfield Pitcher was summoned for being drunk on the licensed premises of the Brewery Tap on November 7^th. Defendant pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Sales said about 10.30 a.m. on November 7^th he had to eject defendant from the Tramway Tavern. At 1 p.m. he saw defendant go into the Brewery Tap in company with another man. He was drunk, and witness drew the landlady`s attention to him. She refused to serve the defendant and asked him to go out. He refused, so witness had to eject him.

Defendant said he “owned” being drunk, but he never caused any disturbance.

Fined 5s. and 9s. costs.