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 Herald 22-5-1971
Local News
About 1,400 Germans successfully invaded Folkestone
on Thursday to enjoy themselves. The visitors - members of the BMW enthusiasts’ club
- strolled about the town shooting local scenes with their cine cameras and
went shopping. Many
bought driving gear, ranging from tyres to goggles and crash helmets - but
fewer than expected went to the pubs. They were visiting Folkestone during an
international convention of their club, held this week at Bruges, in Belgium. Local licensees had gained extensions
of opening hours to cater for them. But it was the locals who patronised some
of the 17 town centre and harbour area pubs that stayed open.
At the Shakespeare, in Guildhall Street, Mr. Ron
Balsom, said “It was a complete waste of time staying open. I only had 13 Germans in all day”.
Mr. John Tobin, landlord of the East Kent Arms, in
Sandgate Road, said most of his customers had been regulars.
The Oddfellows Arms, in The Stade, was closed by
3.15 p.m. A
spokesman there said “It was a complete and utter waste of time”.
At the True Briton a spokesman said “We did very well - thanks largely to our
regulars”.
The
London and Paris, at the harbour, was busy, but a spokesman said the pub had
not taken a great deal of money.
However,
one very pleased landlady was Mrs. M.M. Lewis, at The Guildhall. “It has been absolutely fantastic”, she said, "We have teen completely packed
out with both German visitors and regulars".
Folkestone's publicity officer, Mr. Charles
McDougal, said “The original letter we received from Belgium about this visit
gave the departure time as 6 p.m. It was not until two days before the visit that we
learned otherwise".
Mr. Alan Stephenson, chairman of Folkestone Chamber
of Trade, said “These people wanted to come to Folkestone, and their visit gave
them an opportunity to sample the pleasures of the town as a holiday resort
rather than just a shopping centre”.
Folkestone Herald
18-6-1977
Local News
Last Monday and Tuesday may have been the Jubilee days –
but for the Guildhall Hotel, Folkestone, the big day of the week was Wednesday.
The hotel, in Guildhall Street, was judged to have the best Jubilee decorations
in the whole of Kent and Sussex. Mr. A.J. Wyman, tied trade director of
Whitbread-Fremlin, presented a cheque for £250 to the licensee, Mrs. Maud
Lewis, and her daughter Eileen, who helps her in the business. The impressive
decorations have, in fact, won a total of £400 – because the Guildhall had
previously won a £50 area prize and a £100 regional prize. The hotel had been
specially decorated with bunting, flowers and, of course, Union Jacks. One
feature is a collection of old (£.s.d.) money and a collection of royal stamps.
The Guildhall is looking forward to celebrating another
jubilee. In September, Mrs. Lewis and her daughter will have been there for 25
years.
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| Photo from Folkestone Herald |
Folkestone Herald
2-9-1983
Local News
A modern pizza restaurant could replace Folkestone`s
Guildhall pub. Pizza Hut (U.K.) Limited have submitted a planning application
to Shepway District Council. A spokesman said if the company gets the go-ahead
it will preserve the character of the pub when installing oak booths and
tables. The company has 26 Pizza Huts in London and is searching for new sites
all over the country. It is not a fast food chain but a full service restaurant
which caters for 20-year-olds to families with young children, said the
spokesman.
But the plans mean that landlady Mrs. Maude Lewis and her
daughter Eileen will have to leave the Guildhall`s bar and move to the nearby
Globe in The Bayle, Folkestone. The pair were told about a month ago that after
31 years they would have to move. The pub`s brewery is Whitbread, of which Pizza
Hut (U.K.) Limited is a subsidiary. “It was quite a shock”, said Eileen, but
added “If it had to happen at least we are lucky enough to go to The Globe”.
The Globe`s present landlord, Mr. Ron Letts, is retiring
in September.
Folkestone Herald
16-9-1983
Local News
Real ale drinkers are furious about plans to close a town
centre pub. Members of the Campaign For Real Ale are set to lodge official
objections to a proposal to shut down one of Folkestone`s oldest pubs, The
Guildhall Hotel, and replace it with a pizza house. They say that if Whitbread
Fremlin, the brewery who own the Guildhall, don`t want the pub then they should
sell, either as a free house or to another brewery. Instead, a planning
application has been submitted to Shepway District Council by Pizza Hut (U.K.)
Limited – a subsidiary of Whitbreads – seeking permission to convert the
building into a restaurant. The company, which is currently searching the
country for possible sites, says that, if it gets the go-ahead, it will
preserve the character of the Guildhall and install oak booths and tables.
But CAMRA members seem singularly unimpressed. Speaking
for the Ashford and Shepway Branch this week, Mr. Jan Pedersen said that the
move was typical of Whitbread Fremlin`s apparent policy of closures in the
town. He said that since 1982 one Whitbread pub in the town had closed
permanently, two others had been merged and another three had been shut for a
long period of time before being re-opened. “The loss of a traditional pub if
these proposals go ahead will also mean the loss of an amenity”, said Mr.
Pedersen, who asked “When did you last try holding a meeting or a darts or
cribbage match in a restaurant?” He added that Guildhall Street already had
plenty of restaurants. Mr. Pedersen urged people to support CAMRA in its
objections to the Pizza Hut scheme. “We will be objecting but it is doubtful
that we can win alone”, he said. “If you would be sorry to see the loss of yet another
pub, write to the council telling them so. You elected them as your
representatives, so now is your chance to see if they listen to the people they
are meant to represent”.
But on Monday a spokesman for Whitbread Fremlins, Mr.
Geoff King, said “These CAMRA people have got it completely wrong. The
Guildhall is going to be closed for improvements and, when it re-opens, it will
include a Pizza Hut operation but it will also be a pub selling real ales”.
Folkestone Herald
30-9-1983
Local News
After 27 years as landlords of the Globe pub, Ron and
Barbara Letts are set to enjoy life on the other side of the bar. The couple
bade farewell to their regulars at a retirement party on Monday but said they
would more than likely pop back now and then. It was a hectic day as Ron and
Barbara prepared to move out and new landladies Miss Eileen Lewis and her
mother Mrs. Maude Lewis, of the Guildhall Hotel, Folkestone, took over. Neither
Ron nor Barbara were sorry to leave the pub in The Bayle, Folkestone, and said they
were looking forward to doing nothing. The couple moved to a flat in Guildhall
Street. A decanter and six glasses was presented by Mr. John Norton, area
manager with Whitbread Fremlins.
The Guildhall Hotel is closing, but a company called
Pizza Hut (U.K.) Limited has submitted a planning application to Shepway
District Council for permission to turn the pub into a modern pizza house.
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| Photo from Folkestone Herald |
Folkestone Herald
3-2-1984
Local News
The towels have gone up over a century of pub history as regulars supped
their last pint and turned their eyes to watering holes anew. After more years
than the most devout regular cares to remember the proprietors of the Guildhall
in Folkestone have sounded the final bell on the old pub, and what was once the
delight of the drinking classes is to be turned into a licensed pizzeria.
Pubs may come and fads may go, but British landladies live on forever
and although it`s time at the Guildhall the licensee Mrs. Maud Lewis will
continue serving pints at The Globe in The Bayle, assisting her daughter
Eileen, who is licensee there. “I have been here 32 yeras and there have been
some good times. It`s sad the old place will not be as it was but I shall be
helping my daughter at The Globe and I expect to see many old friends there”,
said Maud who is now 73.
On Friday Mr. John Kidson, managing director of Whitbread Fremlins,
presented Maud with a cut glass decanter and glasses to mark her long service
at the Guildhall. During the lunchtime ceremony she was also presented with a
colour television, given as a mark of appreciation by Folkestone and District
Licensed Victuallers` Association and Ladies` Auxiliary. Mr. Kidson praised the
50 years of service Maud had given to the licensed trade and in particular to
her 32 years behind the bar of the Guildhall.
But the highest praise of all came from locals who thronged the bar on
Friday and also attended a wake on Sunday evening. "I have been coming in
here ever since Maud took over. Now Maud is going to help out over at The Globe
I shall be going over there”, said Mrs. Audrey Brandon. who works at a nearby
furniture store. “It’s another landmark gone but at least we shall be able to
preserve some of the pub’s atmosphere. It is the people that make that”.
Folkestone Herald 12-9-1986
Local News
The funeral service of Folkestone’s most famous former pub landlady,
Maud Lewis, took place on Wednesday. Maud - who died last week aged 75 - was
landlady at the old Guildhall pub, until it closed in 1984, for 32 years. For much
of the last two years of her life she helped her daughter Eileen at the Globe
on The Bayle. In all, she gave over 50 years` service to the licensed trade. When she
retired from the Guildhall, Maud received many gifts and presentations from
grateful regulars and friends. Members of the Guildhall Street
Traders’ Association gave her an inscribed powder compact and the Folkestone
and District Licensed Victuallers Association presented a colour television. She built
up a solid following during her time at the pub. As one regular said when the
Guildhall closed “I have been coming here ever since Maud took over. Now she is
going to the Globe I shall be going over there. It is people that make a pub’s
atmosphere”. Maud was buried at Herne Bay following a funeral service at Folkestone
Parish Church.
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