Folkestone Herald
14-2-1981
Annual Licensing Sessions
Police are to
keep a sharper eye on under age drinking and licensees have been warned that
conditions could be attached to their special hours` certificates.
Divisional Chief
Superintendent Percival Towler told the annual licensing meeting at Folkestone
on Wednesday that under age drinking continues to be a matter for serious
concern. He said “During the coming year particular attention will be paid by
police with a view to preventing and detecting offences of under age drinking”.
During last August,
September and October the conduct of people leaving late night discos in
Folkestone town centre caused a noticeable increase in offences of public
disorder and violence, said the superintendent.
Presiding Magistrate Mr Alan Salter said licensees must realise their
responsibilities. Although the committee is fully aware of the difficulties they face, in
cases where alcohol has been served to a person under age the Magistrates will
not fail to take action. He also hoped licensees will watch the conduct of people leaving late
night discos, for they have a responsibility in this matter. And he reminded holders of
special hours certificates the Licensing Act gave power to impose conditions on
the hours under such certificates. But in general, the committee congratulated
the licensees on the way they conducted their business, said the Chairman.
South Kent Gazette
18-3-1981
Local News
Furious pub landlords say shock rises of up to 8p. on a
pint of beer could put them out of business. Tenants of Whitbread Fremlin pubs
in Shepway are bitter and incensed at the massive increase imposed by the
brewery.
The rise, brought in on Monday, could put many of the
landlords in the area out of the business or force them to go
out to work while their wives manage the pub. This was the message from landlord
Vic Batten, of the Jubilee Inn, Folkestone, who spoke on behalf of 40 tenants
in the area on Monday. “We deplore the breweries increase”, Mr Batten said. “It
means the Whitbread tenants are going to have a “very, very lean time””. On top
of the four pence excise duty which came out of the Chancellor’s Budget, the
brewery has placed an extra few pence on prices because of “inflationary costs
of raw materials and delivery services”, a brewery spokesman claimed. To the
customer this means between 56p and 58p for a pint of bitter, with lager
costing 68p for the usual types and 74p for the Stella Artois brand. Guinness
will also be over the 70p mark. “This is the highest increase the trade has
ever been faced with”, Mr. Batten said. “We are having a lean enough time with
the recession. This is obviously going to aggravate things even more. The pubs
are already in competition with licensed clubs in the area. It could result in
some of the licensees having to get out of the trade or going out to work while
their wives run the pub”.
The local tenants held a special
meeting at the Golden Arrow public house in Golden Valley on Sunday to discuss
the situation. “But there is nothing we can do; we are tied tenants, contracted
to get supplies from Whitbread”, said Mr. Batten. “We have had reactions from
free-trade licensees. They are very incensed at Whitbread and talking about
organising some sort of a boycott”.
Mr. Batten, a landlord for 13 years,
said the increase adds up to a 66 percent rise on beer in the last three years
and 50 percent up in spirits. His prices were put up in December and only two
weeks ago the cost of bottled beer and spirits were increased.
However, the brewery has written to
tenants stating that after this increase prices will remain the same for 12
months. A spokesman for Whitbread Fremlin said this will be the case providing
there is not a mini-budget or any unforeseen problem in that time.
South Kent Gazette
15-2-1984
Local News
Liberalised licensing hours are coming to Shepway this summer - but
drinkers will have to wait if they want year-round 11 o’clock closing times. Licensing
Magistrates rejected an application for an all-the-year round application by
the Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers’ Association, but gave their
permission for an extended summer season. From this summer Shepway pubs will be
able to stay open from June 1 to September 30 instead of between July 1 and
September 14 as previously. Said one publican after the brewster
session had ended “We would like to have seen hours more in line with Europe
and Scotland, but most of us feel this is a move in the right direction”.
Folkestone Herald
24-2-1984
Local News
Non, nein, or however you want to put it, Shepway
drinkers have given the thumbs-down to Common Market tinkering with the price
of a pint. Brussels bureaucrats have said that Britain discriminates against
wine in favour of beer and have asked for a harmonisation of prices. But with
one eye on the budget, drinkers and licensees alike suspect that is 1984
doublespeak for a thumping increase in the price of a pint.
First into the counter-attack against whatever Whitehall
and Brussels have in mind is Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers`
Association, which says the price of a pint is already too high, and if any
adjustment is to be made, wine costs should be cut. “I`ve been here 15 years,
and in that time I have seen the price of a pint of beer double inside five
years and the number of customers fall off” said Vic Batten, Chairman of the
association, and innkeeper at the Jubilee on The Stade, Folkestone. “In
January, 1979, mild was 30p a pint, and out two bitters 34p and 38p. A pint of
mild now costs 66p and the bitters 72p and 74p respectively. You can go into
any pub in the area and they will tell you the same thing, and it amounts to
this – the higher the price of a pint, the more the average person is put off
from visiting their local. The ridiculous thing is that in this country we aret
axed more heavily on drink than in any other country in the Common Market with
the exception of the Irish Republic”.
As the lounge bar of the Jubilee cleared at the end of
the lunchtime session Mr. Batten`s grandson, three-and-a-half months old Thomas
came down with his mum to see what was going on. Rapid calculations revealed
that, assuming prices rise on the current scale, Thomas will be tipping back
pints at more than £12 a time – if there are any pubs open by the time he is
20.
One of the last customers to leave was fellow-publican
and ex-journalist, Brian Potter, now licensee at the Clarendon in Tontine
Street, Folkestone. Said Brian between mouthfuls of ale “If nobody says or does
anything then I reckon they`ll get away with pegging wine at the price it is
and harmonising the prices by jacking up the price of a pint. What Vic says is
dead right. The average bloke is beginning to realise the cost of a pint of
beer has already been increased out of all proportion. I mean, have your wages
doubled in the last five years?”
Opinions of the same sort were voiced by Mr. Danny
McNeill, late of Balloch, Scotland, and now not-unacquainted with the bar of
the Globe in Folkestone`s Bayle. “If the people who fixed the prices could
stand in here and listen to what people are saying, their ears would burn”, he
said. “There’s definitely something wrong with the
pricing when you can get a super strong lager in Scotland for less than 70p. It
seems to me that the brewers and the government are pricing themselves out of
a good thing”.
Folkestone Herald
28-9-1984
Local News
Publicans are adding their voices to a national call for new opening
times. Public
pressure and campaigns from various trade groups could result in changes in
opening times, which might mean some pubs staying open 12 hours a day. Chairman of the Folkestone district
Licensed Victuallers’ Association, Vic Batten, said members were supporting
FLAG - the Flexi-Law Action Group - in its campaign. “We feel the best
alternative would be to have a system similar to Scotland”, said Mr. Batten.
That would mean opening later – at 11a.m. - but staying open until 11p.m.
In Scotland the flexible licensing hours have led to the creation of
1,400 jobs and apparently contributed to a 50 per cent drop in drunkenness. The jobs created fall in the tourism
and leisure categories - an important part of seaside employment.
Said Mr Batten “It would certainly mean more jobs, although they would
more likely be part-time. But the licensee would be happy and so would the customer”. He said opening around 10am was a washout and publicans would far rather
open a little later and add that extra time elsewhere. “We could stay open through the
afternoon for people who might naturally want a drink. Families and travellers might benefit not only in towns but in the
countryside. What can be better than a nice drink at four in the afternoon if
you want one?”
FLAG has stressed it is not pressing for lowering of the drinking age
or allowing children in bars. The
Folkestone branch has already met the town’s M.P. Michael Howard and is
awaiting ideas from the association’s head office on how it can step up
pressure and raise public support.
Folkestone Herald
15-2-1985
Local News
Late drinking throughout the year could be possible in Shepway if Magistrates
agree. This week Folkestone and Hythe publicans made a formal request for the
popular Summertime extra half hour drinking to be made permanent. The 11 p.m.
closing call came from the Shepway Licensed Victuallers’ Association at the
annual meeting of the Licensing Magistrates, who were told there was popular
support for the move. But police, who said they had no
objection to the change, warned landlords to beware of underage drinking in
Shepway.
Folkestone Herald
8-3-1985
Local News
Pubs will stay open till 11 p.m. all year round in
Shepway. Magistrates agreed this week to the extra half hour call from the Licensed
Victuallers` Association, made by public demand. The new rule will be effective
from April 1 and brings Shepway in line with Dover and parts of the Thanet
area.
Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe L.V.A., Vic Batten,
landlord of the Jubilee Inn on The Stade, said “I think it’s what’s wanted. It will satisfy the customers. I
don`t think it will lead to any more trouble. But it will mean more work for
us. And I don`t think it will necessarily generate more trade. I`ll have to pay
more in electricity and staff wages. I don`t think there will be much more
money to be made”.
Magistrates heard that later hours had been tried in the period 1970 to
1972 in Folkestone but had changed back due to lack of trade. But, said Mr. Batten, “Drinking habits have
changed since then”.
Folkestone Herald
19-12-1986
Local News
Festive drinkers will enjoy public house extensions this year. On Christmas Eve the lunchtime session
will last till 3.30 p.m. and last orders will be called at 11.45 at night. The same will apply for Boxing Day,
while on New Year’s Eve hours will be extended until 1 a.m. in the morning. The extended hours have been granted by
Shepway Magistrates following an application from the Licensed Victuallers`
Association.
Folkestone Herald
15-7-1988
Local News
Thirsty summer drinkers in Shepway will have
to wait for all-day pub openings because of a Whitehall glitch. The Government has been forced to delay the controversial new licensing
laws until September 1. This has been
caused by a technical problem at the Home Office which means present “last
orders” for another two months. Then pubs
will be able to serve alcohol from 11a.m. to 11p.m. all week. But not all Shepway landlords reckon it will be worth the bother.
Horace Brickell from the East Cliff Tavern
said “It’s a great idea for some pubs, but for the ones in restricted areas,
like us, it’s not much good.
Where we are placed, it won’t make any difference and it will be a waste
of time staying open”.
William Taylor, landlord of the
Pullman Wine Bar and chairman of the Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers
Association, said "There is some confusion, but no-one is forced to stay
open. They will be able to choose the hours that suit them.” Mr. Taylor said there were mixed feelings about the changes. “Pubs in busy areas are welcoming them but small, rural or out-of-the-way
places are indifferent. Personally,
I’m in favour. I think it will give flexibility to the licensee and the public. I don’t
think it will cause more drunkenness because people only have a certain amount
of money to spend each week. And I don’t mind the extra hours
involved because we will get extra staff which will help the dole queue”.
Barry Chamberlain from the White Lion in
Cheriton agrees. He said “I
think it’s about time change was made. Pubs will become much more suitable for
families, and will be more like restaurants. We will try to stay open all day. We are just about to redecorate the pub with the new freedom in mind”.
Michael Norris from the East Kent Arms told us
“I’ve accepted that the new laws are coming, although I have mixed feelings about them. I think it’s a shame we are not being allowed to stay open later at night
rather than all afternoon. Of course we
will be making full use of the new hours and will try to serve food all day.
It’s all right for us because we are so centrally placed”.
Eileen Lewis from The Guildhall in The Bayle
summed up the feelings of most landlords when she said “If I’m making money,
I’ll stay open”. She added
“It’s all right for more central pubs, but I can’t see us staying open in
winter. The brewery has asked us to give it a
three-month trial period. Like other pubs, we’ll just have to feel our way when
the change comes”.
Folkestone Herald
26-8-1988
Local News
Pubs in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh will continue
with the time-honoured cry “Time, please” despite the big shake-up in pub hours
this week.
Some will “test the beer” with all-day opening, but most landlords
contacted by the Herald felt there wasn’t the demand, and that they would be
out-of-pocket if they had to pay staff to man empty bars.
Martin Foulkes, landlord of the Clarendon, Tontine
Street, Folkestone, said “I run a night pub really. I do not have enough customers
during the day to keep it open. It just would not make sense. On Fridays and
Saturdays I might stay open in the afternoon; it depends on how many people we have in”.
At the Guildhall, The Bayle, Folkestone, landlady Eileen Lewis said “I am
waiting to see how it goes. I might stay open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
but only if we are busy”.
The White Lion, Cheriton, is going to be open all day, every day except
Tuesdays and Sundays. “There are plenty of workers who finish their shifts in
the afternoon who will come here for a drink”, said the landlord.
Kent’s biggest brewery, Shepherd Neame,
welcomed tie change. Chairman Robert Neame said “It is a victory for common sense.
The new laws provide licensees with an opportunity to improve their trading”.
Folkestone Herald 24-1-1992
Local News
Publicans are prepared to lose their jobs and homes
rather than sign new leases they say could double their rents. Half the
publicans in Fover being offered these contracts and two thirds in Shepway are
rebelling, say the local branches of the Licensed Victuallers` Association.
“It`s like signing a suicide pact, and I won`t do it”,
says Rick Abbott, who runs the Cricketers in River. He added “I have a wife and
three children and we would lose our home, but we would be ruined if I signed”.
Big breweries, with more than 2,000 pubs in the country,
are selling pubs or offering 20-year leases because the Monopolies and Mergers
Commission is restricting how many they can have.
Alf Bentley, landlord of the Red Lion in Charlton Green,
Dover, said “This is as ill-conceived as the poll tax. What use is a 20-year
lease to me when I am 60? The breweries are also driving out experienced
landlords and replacing them with people who were probably bakers before”.
Leslie Carpenter, of Carpenter`s in The Stade,
Folkestone, said “My own rent will only go up by a third, but I couldn`t even
manage that. I am prepared to lose my job rather than accept. It`s hard enough
to survive with the recession. We`ve just lost more customers through the
Sealink redundancies”.
The L.V.A. says the increases would further damage pubs
because landlords would have to put up their prices to try to survive. They say
the cost of a pint is now pushing £2.
Only last week Barry Musk walked out of the pub where he
had been a tenant for four years, the Red Cow, in Foord Road, Folkestone. He
now manages a free house, the Imperial, in Black Bull Road. He said “Signing
would have meant my rent going up from £12,000 a year to £20,000, which would
have ruined me. I was lucky because I found another pub without that kind of
expense”.
All four pubs are owned by Whitbread. A spokesman said
the company was willing to negotiate with landlords if they could not afford
new rents. “The LVA claims that rents will double, but I dispute that. Our own
survey shows that overall rents have increased by just 45 percent”, he added.
Whitbread says Government legislation has been put it and other brewers in a
dilemma. The new Landlord and Tenant Act gives publicans security of tenure, yet
the Monopolies Commission says brewers must get rid of pubs.
Folkestone Herald
11-9-1992
Local News
Pubs are shutting down tomorrow (Saturday) for fear of
violence after an Anti-Nazi demo. Campaigners say they will demonstrate at
Folkestone Central railway station against an expected rally there by Nazi
skinheads. And some publicans, particularly in the Harbour area, are taking no
chances with their property and staff.
The assistant manager of the Royal George in Beach
Street, who did not want to be named, said “We could be in a prime area for
trouble and we are shutting all day. It is not worth staying open, even if only
a few hundred pounds worth of damage is caused”.
Landlady Sue Welch said her pub, the London and Paris in
Harbour Street, would certainly close during the day and possibly in the
evening. She said “The place could get wrecked. We can`t risk that”. Her son,
barman Alan, 19, said “There could be real danger. This is the area where there
is most likely to be trouble because Fascists from Europe may travel here by
Seacat”.
Some pubs and bars, such as Jolson`s in Tontine Street,
are definitely staying open. A member of staff, who did not want to be named,
said “We didn`t close when the bombs and shells came down during the war. Why
should we close now for a bunch of skinhead idiots?”
Other pubs are taking advice from the police and may make
their decisions tomorrow morning.
A spokesman at the Park Inn, next to Folkestone Central
Station, said “A lot of people are frightened by this. I know of some people
who say they won`t go into work at the town centre tomorrow. But we don`t know
if we will shut because we are not certain the rally will go ahead”.
Last Saturday anti-fascist activists leafleted the town
asking people to attend the demonstration. Anti-Nazi League member Kelvin
Williams told the Herald 4,000 flyers were handed out and 500 names taken on a
petition. He said “I`ve done a few of these in my time and I have never known
such a favourable response. My guess is there will be 400 people turning up”.
Last week a spokesman for the far-right Blood and Honour
organisation, which had hoped to stage a concert in Folkestone, said nothing
was now planned.
But Mr. Williams countered this week; “Our information is
that they will be mobilising in London to come down here”.
Jon Steel, a spokesman for Kent Police, said “People
ought not to be panicking because if there is any disturbance it will be
quashed very quickly. We will have whatever resources are necessary to deal
with whatever happens”.
Folkestone Herald
17-2-1994
Local News
Police in Shepway will continue to take firm action
against licensees who refuse to abide by licensing rules. But they would prefer
a partnership approach to solve problems before they get worse, said
Superintendent Bill Wharf in his annual report to the Magistrates` licensing
committee. Mr. Wharf said Shepway had been free of major disorder but there
were incidents of large groups of drunks gathering at or near late-night food
take-away shops at around 2.15 a.m. after clubs had closed. These groups, said
Mr. Wharf, had grown to more than 100. There had been fights, serious injuries
and arrests.
In early summer, Mr. Wharf and other officers met with
all the night club operators. There was also a meeting between police and door
staff. “Many issues were discussed, and it was agreed we should work together
in partnership in making Shepway a trouble-free area to visit”, said Mr. Wharf.
Some clubs had voluntarily improved video surveillance
inside and outside their premises. Night club operators can phone the police to
receive or report information about troublemakers in a “ring-round” system.
Mr. Wharf said he is disappointed problems do still
happen, usually on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights, keeping extra officers
on duty to 3 a.m. He was encouraged by the positive attitude of night club
operators and their door staff, and would explore ways of reducing disorder, such
as early closure of take-away premises.
Mr. Wharf said there were two cases during the past year
which gave a clear signal to licensees that Shepway police would act firmly to
revoke licenses.
The Cartoon Club in Folkestone failed to comply with
Special Hours Certificate conditions requiring alcohol to be sold as ancilliary
to food and dancing. People leaving the club also caused disturbance to
residents in old people`s sheltered accommodation. The case went to appeal, but
the certificate was revoked. “Local people have written to me and thanked me
for positive police action”, said Mr. Wharf.
Another club, Jams in Hythe, had its Public
Entertainments Licence cancelled after people leaving the premises caused
persistent general nuisance to local people, mainly in Stade Street. Shepway
Council public entertainment sub-committee and the Magistrates` Court decided
the licence should be revoked, said Mr. Wharf.
He expected licensees in rural areas to take greater
responsibility complying with licensing laws because of their remote location.
But there was evidence to the contrary. One licensee was convicted of assault
causing actual bodily harm on licensed premises. The police decided he wasn`t a
fit and proper person to hold a licence, and he resigned. There were two other
rural cases where there was evidence of after-hours drinking. One licensee
received his final warning and the other had his licence revoked, though an
appeal is pending.
But he stressed the majority of licensees are very
responsible.
Folkestone Herald 2-2-1995
Local News
Plans to extend pub opening hours on Sundays have failed
to cheer local landlords. “No thanks” was the reply from most Shepway publicans
asked about the controversial move.
Prime Minister John Major wants to scrap the law that forces
pubs to close between 3 and 7 p.m., leaving them free to open from noon until
10.30 p.m.
But many hard-working pub owners are already calling time
on the idea, saying their extra time off on Sundays was “sacrosanct”.
Tony Leeves, owner of the White Lion, in Cheriton High
Street, said “With most publicans Sunday afternoons are the only time they get
to sit down and have a normal lunch, with an extra hour to relax. My Sunday
afternoons are sacrosanct and I like being able to relax for an extra hour and enjoy
my Sunday roast and Yorkshire pudding”. Mr. Leeves already works from 8 a.m. to
11 p.m. every day except Sundays, and he says he will probably not open for the
extra hours. “If the business is to be had I`m all for going out and getting
it, but people only have so much money to spend”, he added. “If you divide that
amount by hours, it just means less money is spent per hour”.
Landlord James Hawkings said his regulars at The Happy
Frenchman, in Christ Church Road, Folkestone, thought little of the proposal.
“Most men come out for a drink at Sunday lunchtime, but have to get back to
their wives for their lunch afterwards”. He intends to stay shut between 3 and
7 p.m. and does not believe trade will suffer as a result. Pubs benefitting
from the longer hours would be those in the countryside selling meals, and
those on the seafront, he said.
A Home Office official said the Government hoped to
change the law by the end of the year. The proposals include letting
off-licences sell alcohol from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.. And supermarkets could do
the same for six continuous hours on Sundays.
Folkestone Herald
10-8-1995
Local News
Most landlords have welcomed the new Sunday opening
hours. Many pubs were packed with families celebrating the freedom to drink all
afternoon while others were deserted because customers were confused by the new
law. Drinkers who didn`t know about the new tippling time were in for a
surprise at the Harbour Inn, Folkestone. Barman Ian Waddilove explained “A lot
of them wondered why we didn`t ring last orders at ten to three. The later
closing time seemed to have gone down pretty well”.
However, Maureen Coles, landlady of the Morehall,
Cheriton, blamed confusion about the new law for locals staying away. “It was
absolutely dead”, she said. “Most people did not realise the new law had
started even though we put posters up”.
Folkestone Herald 8-1-1998
Local News
Folkestone landlords have backed a Government proposal to
lower the drink-drive limit, despite the effect it may have on their takings.
Ministers are considering plans to lower the existing limit from 80 mg of
alcohol per 100 mg of blood to 50, bringing the laws in line with the
Continent. They are also looking at the idea of introducing a two-tier system,
with motorists who are found to be just over the limit receiving lesser
penalties.
The lower levels, which are equivalent to just one pint
of beer, are yet another thing to hit landlords` coffers. Bootlegging has
greatly affected pub takings, with gangs stocking up with beer from abroad and
selling it off at cut-price rates. But, say landlords, the new restriction will
not be the latest thing to hit the pubs.
Steve Lloyd, manager of the Pullman pub in Church Street,
said “Drink affects people differently, so the only way to stop drink-driving
is to ban it completely. I don`t think this will affect our takings because we
sell a lot of alternatives like coffee soft drinks and low alcohol lager. They
will help make up the difference. But this two-tier system is stupid. Nobody
knows when they`ve had too much. It just wouldn`t work”.
And Caroline Andrewartha, landlady of the Thistle and
Shamrock in Rendezvous Street (sic), believes that country pubs will be worst
hit. She said “It won`t affect me so badly because I`m in the town centre. But
country pubs will suffer because people usually have to drive to get to them. I
was really busy over the New Year, but a lot of people were talking about
having parties indoors. This, together with the bootlegging, has hit us very
hard. But money isn`t a question when it comes to drink-driving, because it`s
more important that people aren`t hurt”.
And the police are encouraged that landlords have given
the plans the thumbs-up. Spokesman Stuart Donaldson said “The police`s position
has always been very clear – don`t drink and drive. We would welcome any new
law that lowers the risk of people dying on the road. The new plans make it
absolutely clear about how much you can drink when you`re driving.
Unfortunately there`s still a hard core of people who don`t take any notice of
the law, which is even more of a reason why these new levels should be
introduced”.
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