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 Gazette
17-7-1974
Obituary
One of Folkestone`s best-known former publicans, Mr. Dave
Martin, died recently at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was 78. From 1928
until 1954 he was licensee of the True Briton, at Folkestone harbour. During
that time he was treasurer of the local branch of the Licensed Victuallers`
Association. For nearly 20 years he organised the local heats of the News of
the World championships. After leaving the True Briton, Mr. Martin took over
the licence of the old Eagle Tavern in Guildhall Street, Folkestone. The pub
has since been demolished.
The funeral service at Hawkinge Parish Church was
attended by members of his family and a few friends. Mr. Martin lived at 24,
Tontine Street, Folkestone, with his eldest daughter, Miss Eileen Martin. He
left two other daughters, Mrs. Jean Chard, and Mrs. Thelma Haywood, and a son,
Mr. David Martin.
South Kent Gazette
2-9-1981
Local News
Plans to knock together two pubs in a £100,000 facelift
have been approved by Shepway District Council. Brewers Whitbread want to turn
the True Briton and Harbour pubs in Folkestone into one, with a small bar and
restaurant upstairs. Downstairs there will be a large open bar in fisherman
style serving locally caught seafood. The scheme`s designers have also got a pat on the back from Shepway’s design architect. Both
pubs are of different ages, architectural styles and proportions. To combine
the facades well was a “considerable problem” but has been achieved with some
success. Building work on the pubs is expected to begin shortly and Whitbread
hopes to have the new single pub open in December.
Folkestone Herald
12-2-1982
Local News
Work of joining neighbouring pubs together in a £120,000
conversion to produce a building in keeping with the old harbour area of
Folkestone has almost been completed. The Harbour Crab and Oyster House,
formerly the Harbour Hotel and True Briton, in Harbour Street, reopens to the
public next Friday, February 19.
Old customers may recognise the exterior, now clad in
dark weatherboarding, but inside the design theme has captured the interior of
a harbour warehouse and ships` chandlers at the turn of the 19th
century.
Roy Pepperrell, Whitbread Fremlins design manager, who
planned the alterations, said “The idea was to provide something to match the
area, and it seems to have come through well. Folkestone`s planners have
congratulated us on the design and the Chamber of Commerce has expressed its
appreciation of a development sympathetic to the old harbour area, which they
feel has increased tourist potential”.
Bar customers will be able to purchase seafood snacks,
and in the Fish Basket Grill, 54 customers can be seated for cooked fish meals
with seafood salads and steak dishes. Fish will be bought daily from local
catches, and lobsters crabs and oysters will be on the menu, with draught ale
from handpumps and popular wines.
Folkestone Herald
26-2-1982
Local News
A Trumpet fanfare heralded the opening of a new pub
restaurant at Folkestone Harbour on Friday. Colour Sergeant Jon Yates and Corporal Jan
Zawada, of the Royal School of Music at Deal, provided the musical welcome for the first customers. Brewers Whitbread Fremlins have spent
£120,000 converting two pubs, the True Briton and the Harbour Inn, into the
Harbour Crab and Oyster House. Builders and staff had worked until late into the previous night putting
the finishing touches to the revamped building. Top brewery officials, including managing director
John Kidson, local dignitaries and business people attended a special opening
lunch.
Welcoming the guests retail trade director Alan
Wyman said “As you are probably all aware this particular part of Folkestone,
which has got a number of attractive features, has been somewhat neglected in
the past. My company felt that, in view of the standard of amenities in the rest
of the town, it was about time somebody started to do something in the
harbour.” Mr. Wyman said he hoped the venture has helped even if only in a small
way, to alleviate the local unemployment situation. Harbourmaster Jim Ewing took part in
the opening ceremony by unfurling naval signal flags representing the word
harbour.
The new pub and restaurant, which specialises in
seafood, is employing 21 staff, 17 of whom have fulltime jobs. Both managers Mike and Lynda Daniells
are from Folkestone and previously managed the Royal Oak at Newingreen. It is possible that if the place, the
third of its type to be opened in Kent, is a big success, more staff will be
taken on.
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