Oddfellows Inn 1910 - 1914

Folkestone Express 27-5-1911

Thursday, May 25^th: Before W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer and R.J. Linton Esqs., and Major Leggett.

William Henry Farley, a sailor, was charged with being drunk and incapable. He pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Piddock said at 7.30 p.m. the previous day he was in Dover Street, when he saw the prisoner staggering from one side of the street to the other. He cautioned him and told him to go away. Prisoner said “All right”, but entered the Oddfellows Inn, from which he was ejected. Prisoner was drunk, and narrowly escaped falling through a shop window. He then took him into custody.

P.S. Sales, who was on duty at the police station, said prisoner asked for a doctor, and Dr. Bateman attended and gave a certificate.

Fined 2s. 6d. and 5s. 6d. costs, or seven days`.

Folkestone Daily News 13-2-1913

Annual Licensing Sessions
The Licensing Bench on Wednesday, February 12^th, was constituted as follows: Messrs. Ward, Boyd, Leggett, Swoffer, Stainer, Herbert, Fynmore, Hamilton, and Linton.

The Chief Constable read his report (for which see Folkestone Express).

The Chairman said the report of the Chief Constable was very satisfactory, but the Bench were still of opinion that there were too many licensed houses in a certain portion of the town. Therefore a number would have their licences withheld until the adjourned sessions on the ground of redundancy. Formal opposition to the renewals would be served so that full enquiries could be made into the trade of these houses, with a view of referring some of them to the Compensation Authority.

The following were the licences which were held over: The Raglan, Dover Street; Oddfellows, Dover Street; Royal Oak, North Street; Isle of Cyprus, Bayle; Lord Nelson, Radnor Street; Lifeboat, North Street; Wellington, Beach Street.

Folkestone Express 15-2-1913

Annual Licensing Sessions

The Brewster Sessions were held on Wednesday morning. The Justices present were E.T. Ward Esq., Major Leggett, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, G. Boyd, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, and J. Stainer Esqs. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Stainer did not take part in the licensing business, not being on the committee.

The Chief Constable read his report as follows: Gentlemen, I have the honour to report that there are at present within your jurisdiction 119 places licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor by retail, viz., Full Licences 73, Beer On 7, Beer Off 6, Beer and Spirit Dealers Off 15, Grocers, etc. Off 9, Confectioners` Wine On 3, Chemists Wine Off 5. This gives an average, according to the Census of 1911, of one licence to every 281 persons, or one on licence to every 418 persons. As compared with the return submitted last year this is a decrease of two licences. At the general annual licensing meeting last year a new licence was granted for the sale of beer off the premises at Morehall, and two other off licences were discontinued.

At the last adjourned general annual licensing meeting the renewal of the licence of the Rendezvous Hotel was referred to the Compensation Committee on the ground of redundancy, and at the meeting of that Committee on the 7^th August, 1912, the licence was refused, and after payment of compensation the house was closed for the sale of drink on the 28^th December last.

During the past year fifteen of the licences have been transferred; one licence was transferred twice.

Six occasional licences have been granted for the sale of drink on premises not ordinarily licensed for such sale, and 34 extensions of the usual time of closing have been granted to licence holders on special occasions.

During the year ended 31^st December last 85 persons (62 males and 23 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness; 64 were convicted and 21 discharged.

In the preceding year 54 males and 31 females were proceeded against, of whom 66 were convicted and 19 discharged.

The number convicted of drunkenness last year, viz., 46 males and 18 females, is, I find, the smallest number convicted in any year since 1896.

Of those proceeded against, 31 were residents of the Borough, 34 were persons of no fixed abode, 13 residents of other districts and seven were soldiers.

No conviction has been recorded against any licence holder during the past year. Proceedings were taken against the holder of an off licence for a breach of the closing regulations, but the case was dismissed.

Eleven clubs where intoxicating liquor is sold are registered in accordance with the Act of 1902.

There are 17 places licensed for music and dancing, eight for music only, and two for public billiard playing.

I have no complaint to make as to the conduct of any of the licensed houses, and offer no opposition to the renewal of any of the present licences on the ground of misconduct.

The Chairman said it was a very satisfactory report indeed, but they felt that there were still too many licensed houses, particularly in certain portions of the Borough, and the Justices would direct that a certain number of the applications for renewal should be deferred till the Adjourned Sessions, so that they might have evidence as to the trade those houses were doing, and decide whether any of them ought to be referred to the Compensation Authority.

The houses to be dealt with were seven in number, namely; the Raglan Tavern, the Oddfellows, the Royal Oak, the Isle of Cyprus, the Lord Nelson, the Lifeboat, and the Wellington.

With those exceptions the existing licences were granted.

Folkestone Herald 15-2-1913

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 12th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Major Leggett, Mr. W.G. Herbert, Mr. J. Stainer, and Mr. G. Boyd.


The Chief Constable presented his annual report (for which see Folkestone Express).

The Chairman remarked that the report was a very satisfactory one, but, in the opinion of the Bench, there were still too many public houses in certain portions of the town, and they would defer the renewal of certain of the licences to the adjourned sessions, so that they might have evidence as to what trade they were doing, and see if any of them were to be referred to the compensation authority.

The licensees of the Raglan Tavern, the Oddfellows, Dover Street, the Royal Oak, North Street, the Isle of Cyprus, the Lord Nelson, the Lifeboat, and the Wellington were called forward.

The Chairman said the renewal of the licences of those public houses would be deferred until the adjourned licensing sessions, and notice of opposition would be served in the meantime on the ground of redundancy. The Chief Constable would be directed to serve the notices.

The licences of all the other houses were then renewed.

Folkestone Daily News 10-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Monday, March 10^th: Before Messrs. Ward, Hamilton, Stainer, Herbert, Harrison, Morrison, Linton, Boyd, Stace, Jenner, and Giles.

There was again a large crowd in Court on Monday morning, when the fate of 7 licensed houses (referred for redundancy) hung in the balance.

At the commencement of the proceedings the Chief Constable said the Bench had to consider the seven licences adjourned from the annual sessions on the ground of redundancy. He invited the Bench to hear the evidence in regard to such houses separately and give a decision after hearing all the evidence.

The Oddfellows, Dover Street.

Tenant, Mr. A. Hartley, brewers, Messrs. A. Leney.

The usual objections were offered by the Chief Constable, who said he considered the premises ill-adapted for the business. He had no doubt that a very considerable trade was done, but if the licence were taken away there would be no inconvenience whatever.

Mr. A. Hartley said he had held the licence of the house for the last five years; he was not tied for spirits. Two clubs met at his house, he did a good trade, made a good living, and wished to keep on the licence.

Mr. A. Leney gave the average barrels sold as 6½ per week, and said the house showed an increase.

The Bench retired at 4 p.m., and returned at 4.10, the Chairman announcing that the Lord Nelson and the Isle of Cyprus would be referred to Canterbury and the other five licences would be renewed.

  

Folkestone Express 15-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

At the annual licensing sessions seven licences were deferred to the adjourned sessions, which were held at the Town Hall on Monday. The Magistrates on the Bench were E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Alderman Jenner, and W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, G. Boyd, W.J. Harrison, J.J. Giles, E.T. Morrison and A. Stace Esqs.

The Oddfellows

The next licence to be considered was that of the Oddfellows. Mr. Drake represented the owners, Messrs. Leney, and the licensee, Mr. A. Hartley.

The Chief Constable said Mr. Hartlet obtained the licence in 1908. The registered owners were Messrs. Leney and Co., Dover, and the rateable value of the house was £24. The house was situate in Dover Street at the corner of Saffron`s Place. The front entrance in Dover Street was approached by five steps from the street, and it opened into a front bar. There was a side entrance from Saffron`s Place, which opened into the lobby, from which there was a bar or taproom which overlooked the back yard. On the first floor, approached by stairs from the lobby or side bar, was a club room in front, 15ft. by 12ft., and another behind 11ft. by 10ft., with a moveable partition, so that the two rooms could be thrown into one. The living room of the licensee was in the basement. The entrance to it was by five steps down from Dover Street. There was a small enclosed yard at the back of the premises. That was approached by three steps down from the lobby or side bar. There was no other entrance to the yard, which was divided from the next door by a wall only five feet high. The nearest licensed house was the Granville, in Dover Street, 79 yards away. The rateable value of that was £19. The Chequers was 125 yards away, and it belonged to the same firm of brewers. The rateable value of that was £28. Next door to the Chequers was the South Foreland, with a rateable value of £72. There were eleven other on-licensed houses within a radius of 150 yards, and most of them did a similar class of trade to that house. He considered the premises to be ill-adapted for the business and it was an awkward place altogether. He had no doubt that a very fair trade was being done, but he felt that if the licence was taken away there would be ample accommodation elsewhere.

Cross-examined, Mr. Reeve said the house was easy of police supervision. It had been conducted in a proper manner. There had been no complaint against the house. There had only been two transfers during the last thirteen years. The premises were ill-adapted for the business, and did not seem to be the class one would wish for a public house. The front bar was very stuffy.

Mr. Hartley said he had held the licence during the last five years. His average for the last three years for the spirit trade was 112 gallons. The Homing Pigeon Society and the Wednesday Social Club met at his house. He did a good trade and wanted to keep on the house. He was making a good living.

Mr. Leney said the average trade for beer during the last three years was 325½ barrels. In 1912 the trade went up to 343 barrels from 325. It was, therefore, an increasing trade.

Mr. Drake, for the owners, contended that the two houses belonging to Messrs. Leney should not be sent to the compensation authority. His chief and only objection to that course being adopted was that both were doing a considerable trade, one over five barrels a week, and the other just on five barrels. If a licensee was doing five barrels a week, in addition to his spirits, it showed there was a necessity for the house in the district.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return the Chairman announced that the licence would be renewed.

 

Folkestone Herald 15-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

The adjourned Annual Folkestone Licensing Sessions were held at the Police Court on Monday, when the licences of the seven houses deferred at the Annual General Sessions came up for hearing. Mr. E.T. Ward was in the chair, and he was supported by Mr. W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Colonel C.J. Hamilton, Mr. J. Stainer, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. G. Boyd, Alderman C. Jenner, Captain Chamier, Mr. J.J. Giles, Councillor W.J. Harrison, Mr. E.T. Morrison and Councillor A. Stace.

The Oddfellows

Mr. B.C. Drake represented the owners, Messrs. Leney and Co.

The Chief Constable stated that the present licensee of the house was Mr. A. Hartley, who obtained a transfer in 1908. The rateable value was £24, and the registered owners were Messrs. Leney and Co., Dover. The house was situated in Dover Street, at the corner of Saffrons Place. The front entrance in Dover Street was approached by five steps, which opened into the front bar. There was a side entrance from Saffrons Place, which opened into a lobby or side bar, and from this lobby there was a tap room overlooking the back yard. On the first floor, approached by stairs from the lobby, was a side bar or club room in front, 15ft. by 12ft., and another one behind 11ft 10ins. by 8ft. 10 ins., with a movable partition, so that they could be thrown into one room. The living room of the licensee was in the basement. The entrance to it from the passage was down five steps from Dover Street, near the front bar of the house. There was a small enclosed yard at the back of the premises, and a w.c. This was approached by three steps down from the lobby or side bar. There was no other entrance to the yard, which was divided from the next door by a wall only 5ft. high. The nearest license house was the Granville, in Dover Street, 79 yards away, and the rateable value of that house was £19. The Chequers was at the other end of Dover Street, 125 yards away, and belonged to the same firm of brewers. The rateable value of the Chequers was £28. Next door to the Chequers was the South Foreland, with a rateable value of £72. There were eleven other licensed houses within a radius of 150 yards, and most of them were doing a similar class trade. He considered the premises to be ill-adapted for the business; an awkward place altogether.

Cross-examined by Mr. Drake, witness stated that the house was easy to supervise by the police, and there had been only two transfers during the last twelve years.

Mr. Hartley stated that he had held the licence for five years, and his average spirit trade had been 112 gallons for the last three years. Two clubs were connected with the house, a pigeon society and a social club. He made a good living there.

Cross-examined by the Chief Constable, witness stated that the fact of his having been summoned for not paying his rates at different times was not due to bad trade. It was simply that he had neglected to pay them.

Mr. C. Leney stated that the average barrelage for the last three years had been 325½ barrels, about 6½ barrels per week. The trade was increasing. He had never heard anything about the structural difficulties before. The house came into their possession thirty years ago.

Mr. B.C. Drake briefly suggested to the Magistrates that these houses should not be sent to Canterbury Quarter Sessions. Both the houses were doing a considerable trade, and the tenants were making a fair living, showing that

there was a necessity for the houses in the district.

The Magistrates retired for a period to consider their decisions. On their return the Chairman said that the Oddfellows licence was renewed