Outside Oddfellows Inn c1928. Credit Gloria Suters
Folkestone Express 9-2-1924
Annual Licensing Sessions
Wednesday, February 6th: Before Alderman R.G.
Wood, Dr. W.J. Tyson, Miss Weston, Miss Hunt, the Rev. Epworth Thompson,
Alderman Pepper, Col. Owen, Col. Broome-Giles, Messrs. G.I. Swoffer, G. Boyd,
A. Stace, W. Hollands, E.T. Morrison, J.H. Blamey, and W.R. Boughton.
The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) presented his report
as follows: I have the honour to report for your information that there are at
present within your jurisdiction 114 premises licensed for the sale of
intoxicating liquor, and taking the population of the Borough according to the
last Census this gives an average of one licensed house to every 329 persons.
The following are particulars of the licensed premises: Full licences 71; beer
on 7; beer off 6; beer and spirit dealers 13; grocers, etc., off 6;
confectioners wine on 3; chemists wine off 4; cider and sweets off 1; Total 114
(81 on and 33 off). Fifteen of the licences have been transferred during the
year. Four occasional licences have been granted to licence holders to sell
drink on special occasions elsewhere than on their licensed premises, and 60
extensions of hours have been granted to licence holders when dinners, etc.,
were being held on their licensed premises. In no case has any abuse of the
privilege been reported. Six hotels and one restaurant have authority under
Section 3 of the Licensing Act, 1921, to supply intoxicating liquor with meals
for one hour after 10 p.m. on weekdays, viz.: Metropole Hotel, Grand Hotel,
Majestic Hotel, Regina Hotel, Esplanade Hotel, Royal Pavilion Hotel, and
Central Cafe. During the year ended 31st December, 1923, 26 persons
(21 males and 5 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness; 16 were
convicted and 10 discharged after being cautioned by the Bench. Of those
proceeded against, 8 were residents of the Borough, 5 were soldiers, 10 were of
no fixed abode, and 3 were non-residents. This is an increase of one as
compared with the number proceeded against last year, when 25 persons (16 males
and 9 females) were proceeded against, of whom 16 were convicted and 9
discharged. The permitted hours, as allowed by the Licensing Act, 1921, have
been fixed by the Licensing Justices for the Borough of Folkestone as under: On
weekdays from 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Sundays
from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eleven clubs where
intoxicating liquor is supplied are registered under the Act. All the licensed
premises have been periodically visited at irregular intervals by my officers
during the year to see that the same are being conducted in a satisfactory
manner, and I am pleased to report that with few exceptions no adverse reports
have been submitted to me. There are 28 premises licensed for music and dancing
and one for public billiard playing. During the year two licensees have been
proceeded against for breaches of the Intoxicating Liquor Laws, viz.: (1)
15-6-23 Henry William Cork, George the Third, Fenchurch Street, permitting
intoxicating liquor to be consumed on his licensed premises during
non-permitted hours; the case was withdrawn upon my application to the Bench.
(2) 7-9-23 Alfred John Cope, Rose Hotel, Rendezvous Street, failing to have his
name and expression of business for which the licence was granted affixed to
the premises; fined 10s. On 20th October, 1923, Michael Ivory, of
the Bouverie Hotel, Bouverie Road, was convicted and fined £1 at Newport, Isle
of Wight, for consuming intoxicating liquor on licensed premises during
restricted hours. I beg to report that in my opinion there is still a
redundancy of licensed premises on the older portion of the Borough.
Observation has been kept, and it would appear that very unequal trade is done
between house and house in the same neighbourhood. Three houses, viz.: The
Oddfellows, Dover Street, The Belle Vue, St. John`s Street, The Richmond
Tavern, Richmond Street, according to reports received, are doing the least
trade in the area referred to, and I have no hesitation in saying that they are
redundant to the needs of the public, and I accordingly recommend that the
licence of each house be referred back for your consideration at the adjourned
meeting. I have to express my appreciation of the fairness and courtesy
extended to me by the Bench during my first year of office, and also for the
able assistance I have received from your Clerk, Mr. John Andrew.
The Chairman said they were especially pleased, it being the
Chief Constable`s first year there, that he was in a position to present such a
good report. The members of the Licensing Authority were very gratified that
the report was so good. They were of opinion that such a good report must point
to the fact that the licence holders had been careful during the past year to
see that the law had been carried out and adhered to on every possible
occasion. Proceedings had only been taken against two licence holders, and they
were reminded that in one instance the Chief constable withdrew the summonses,
and in the other case the offence was of a technical nature. Then with regard
to the cases of drunkenness, out of the 16 convictions only eight of them were
residents of the Borough. When they considered the population of Folkestone and
that Folkestone was a port, with a fishing quarter, and with a military
district adjoining, the Magistrates thought it spoke well for the community.
They knew the community of Folkestone was very sober, but it only required a
few indiscreet persons to spoil their record. They were glad to know that those
few indiscreet persons had exercised great discretion during the past year, and
they hoped the number would not be increased during the present year. On behalf
of the Bench he offered his congratulations to the licence holders and the
general public, who had enabled the Chief Constable to present such an
excellent report. The Justices had given full consideration to the question of
the renewal of those houses specifically mentioned with regard to redundancy,
and they had decided to put back the renewal of those licences for
consideration at the adjourned meeting, and they directed the Chief Constable
to cause opposition to their renewal. As proceedings were also pending against
the Prince of Wales Inn for alleged breaches of the Licensing Act that licence
would not be renewed, but would be put back to the adjourned meeting also. The
question of the renewal of the licences of the Rose Hotel and the George the
Third had also been considered, and they would be renewed that day. All the
other licences would also be renewed.
Folkestone Herald
9-2-1924
Annual Licensing Sessions
Wednesday, February 6th: Before Alderman R.G.
Wood, Dr. W.J. Tyson, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. E.T. Morrison, Colonel
G.P. Owen, Mr. A. Stace, Alderman A.E. Pepper, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson,
Mr. W.R. Boughton, Councillor W. Hollands, Colonel P. Broome-Giles, Miss A.M.
Hunt, and Miss E.I. Weston.
The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) read his report (for
details see Folkestone Express).
The Chairman said they had heard the report of the Chief
Constable, and they were especially glad, it being his first year, for him to
be in a position for him to present such a good report at this annual licensing
meeting. He did not think it required many words from him, beyond saying that
the members of the licensing authority were very grateful that the report was
so good, and they were all of opinion that having such a good result must point
to the fact that the licence holders had been careful during the past year to
see that the law was carried out and adhered to on all possible occasions.
Proceedings had only been taken against two licence holders, and they were
reminded in one case that the Chief constable withdrew the summons, and the
other case was of a technical nature. He thought they would agree with him that
neither of these charges could have been of a serious nature. With regard to
the convictions for drunkenness, they had heard that out of sixteen offenders
only eight were residents of the borough. When they considered the population
of Folkestone and further that the town was a port, with a fishing quarter, and
had a military camp close at hand, to know that only eight of the offenders
were residents spoke very well, he thought, for the community. (Hear, hear) The
community as a whole was a very sober one in Folkestone. It only required a few
indiscreet persons to spoil their record, and they were glad to know that those
few indiscreet persons had exercised great discretion during the past twelve
months, and they hoped that the number of offenders would not be increased
during the coming year. They offered their congratulations to the licence
holders and the general public, who had undoubtedly assisted the Chief
Constable to present such an excellent report as they had had that morning. The
Bench felt that the question of the renewal of the licences of the Oddfellows
Inn, the Belle Vue, and the Richmond Tavern should have further consideration
on the grounds of redundancy, and therefore they would put back the licensing
of these houses to the adjourned sessions. They also directed the Chief
Constable to give opposition to the renewals on the ground stated. The licence
of the Prince of Wales, against which proceedings were pending, would also be
put back. The Rose Hotel and the George the Third Inn had also been considered,
and in these cases the licences would be renewed that day. Therefore, with the
exception of the three houses mentioned on the grounds of redundancy, and the
one against which proceedings were pending, all the other licences would be
renewed that day.
Friday, February 8th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer and
other Magistrates.
William Spearpoint was charged with being drunk on licensed
premises.
Inspector Pittock said at 8.30 on Thursday evening he was in
the private bar of the Oddfellows Inn, Dover Street, when defendant came in and
asked for a drink. The landlord refused to serve him and requested him to
leave. He followed defendant and told him to go home. He lost sight of the
prisoner, and next saw him when in the Jubilee Inn, where he was seated facing
the bar. He called for a drink, but before defendant could be served he had
told him to leave the premises. He arrested him and took him to the police
station.
Prisoner, who said he was very sorry it had happened, was
discharged.
Mr. MacKay, the licensee of the Jubilee Inn, was called
before the Magistrates, the Chairman saying that they had sent for him to
caution him and others. Prisoner was drunk on his premises, and he ought to
have seen that he was removed from there at once. It was his duty to do so. He
should be more careful in the future.
Mr. MacKay said that he did not have time to turn the
prisoner out before Inspector Pittock came in.
Folkestone Express
1-3-1924
Adjourned Licensing Sessions
Wednesday, February 27th: Before Dr. W.J. Tyson
and other Magistrates.
The Magistrates considered the opposition of Mr. Beesley to
the renewal of the licences of the Oddfellows Inn, Dover Street, the Richmond
Tavern, and the Belle Vue on the ground of redundancy.
Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared in the cases of the Oddfellows Inn
and the Richmond Tavern, both of which are owned by Messrs. Leney and Co., of
Dover, and the respective licensees, Mr. G.A. Woodley and Mr. A. Ingleton, and
Mr. G.W. Haines appeared for Messrs. Mackeson and Co., the owners, and Mr. F.J.
Taylor, the licensee, of the Belle Vue Inn.
Evidence was given by Mr. Beesley and Inspector Pittock to
the effect that the houses were unnecessary for the needs of the district, and
the latter gave evidence as to the result of his observations regarding the
trade done at the three houses compared with the other houses in the district.
The Magistrates decided to renew the licence of the Richmond
Tavern, but referred the other two houses to the Compensation Authority at
Canterbury.
Folkestone Herald
1-3-1924
Adjourned Licensing Sessions
Wednesday, February 27th: Before Dr. W.J. Tyson,
Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. A. Stace, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Colonel G.P. Owen, Mr. E.T.
Morrison, Mr. J. Blamey, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, and Miss A.M. Hunt.
The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) opposed the renewal
of the licences of the Oddfellows Inn, Dover Street, the Richmond Tavern,
Richmond Street, and the Bellevue Hotel, St. John`s Street on the ground of
redundancy.
The Oddfellows Inn
The case of the Oddfellows Inn was taken first. Mr. Rutley
Mowll appeared on behalf of the licensee.
The Chief Constable, in the witness box, stated that he put
in an ordnance survey map of the congested area. The population of the borough,
according to the Census in 1921, was 37,511. There was one on licence to every
814 inhabitants, and there was one licence to every 329 persons. The west end
of the borough was almost entirely residential. With the exception of four
large hotels there were only twenty one on licences. This comprised half the
area of the town and two fifths of the population of the town. In the congested
area there were 854 houses, and the population was 4,270. There were twenty one
on licences, and one on licence to every 135 persons and every thirty houses.
The Oddfellows Inn was an old on fully licensed house, situated in Dover Street
at the corner of Saffrons Place within the congested area. The present licensee
was Mr. Clement Augustus Woodley, who obtained the transfer on July 4th,
1923. The two previous transfers were obtained in the years 1908 and 1915. The
registered owners were Alfred Leney and Company (of Dover), and the annual
value of the house was £24. The nearest licensed house was the Granville, in
Dover Street, which was 79 yards away. The rateable value of this house was £24
10s., and within twenty yards was the Druids` Club, which had a membership of
914. There was also the George III, in Fenchurch Street, of a rateable value of
£28; it was only 120 yards away. Then there was the Star and Garter beerhouse
(rateable value £28), only 160 yards away. There were fourteen fully licensed
houses and four on beerhouses within 200 yards of the house in question. From
observation kept, the three houses named did a superior trade to the
Oddfellows, catering for a like class of customers. He considered that there
was ample accommodation in the immediate neighbourhood for the public if this
licence was not renewed. In his opinion the licence was unnecessary for the
accommodation of the public.
Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll, witness said the house was kept
by an ex-policeman. He conducted the house admirably, and to the satisfaction
of the police. It was a well kept house. The renewal of the licence was
considered by the Magistrates in 1913, when it was also opposed on the grounds
of redundancy. On that occasion the licence was renewed by the Magistrates.
Inspector Pittock said he kept observation on the Oddfellows
Inn. He started doing so on the 19th January and he visited the
house practically daily until February 22nd. He also visited other
houses in the immediate vicinity. He had prepared a comparative table of the
trade of the Oddfellows and the other houses. During seventeen visits to the
Oddfellows the total number of customers was 45; at the Granville 173; at the
George III 375; and at the Star and Garter 121. The average attendance was 2.6
at the Oddfellows, at the Granville 13.3, George III 28.81, and the Star and
Garter 7.5. With one exception, the visits were made in the evening. All the
houses were in a working class locality. There had been a considerable fall in
the number of customers to the house in question during the past eighteen
months. On the 24th of January when he went to the house the
licensee said “Hello. What are you after? This redundancy business?” He replied
“I am just having a look round”. He then said “From what I can see about it
this house could well be done without; there is very little trade being done
now”. Witness said “I think your complaint is pretty general”.
By Mr. Mowll: His visits were not carried out in uniform.
George Parks Wood, a representative for A. Leney and
Company, owners of the house, put in the trade as revealed by the books of his
firm from the year 1912 to the present time. He was not able to give any
figures with regard to the sale of spirits. The number of barrels of beer (36
gallons each) supplied in 1912 was 342, and in 1923 146. There had been a
falling off in trade since the war.
Mr. Mowll quoted figures denoting a gradual decrease in the
amount of beer brewed in England and Wales since 1921.
Mr. Wood said that his firm desired that the licence should
be renewed.
The Bench retired, and upon their return the Chairman said
they had decided that the licence of the Richmond Tavern should be renewed, but
with regard to the Bellevue Hotel and the Oddfellows Inn, they would be
referred to the compensation authorities.
The licences of the Oddfellows Inn and the Bellevue Hotel
were provisionally renewed.
Folkestone Herald 9-8-1924
Local News
The East Kent Compensation Authority, sitting at St.
Augustines, Canterbury, on the 1st instant, had before them the
question of the renewal of the licences of the Oddfellows, Dover Street, and
the Bellevue Hotel, St. John`s Street, Folkestone, refused by the local
Justices on the ground of redundancy. Mr. W.A. Wardley, instructed by Mr. C.
Rootes, appeared in support of the Justices` refusal to renew, and Mr. L.S.
Fletcher, instructed by Mr. Geo. W. Haines, appeared in support of the renewal
of the licence of the Bellevue Hotel. In the result the Compensation Authority
decided not to renew the licence, and as the owners of the Oddfellows did not
contest the decision of the local Justices with regard to that house, both
licences will cease to exist on payment of compensation in a few weeks` time.
Folkestone Express 22-11-1924
Local News
A meeting of the East Kent Compensation Authority was held
at the Sessions House, Longport Street, Canterbury, on Monday, to approve the
awards agreed as regards houses which had been referred for compensation. Lord
Fitzwalter was in the chair. The following were the awards: Oddfellows, Dover
Street, Folkestone, £1,525 - £1.314 1s. 1d. to Messrs. Alfred Leney and Co.
Ltd., of Dover, and £210 18s. 11d. to Clement Augustus Woodley, the tenant;
Belle Vue Hotel, St. John`s Street, Folkestone, £1,320 - £1,071 18s. 6d. to
Messrs. Mackeson and Co. Ltd., and £248 1s. 6d. to Frederick John Taylor, the
tenant.
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