Updates

10th April, 2015: Folkestone Gazette and Folkestone Herald Reports for 1975 Added

Earl Grey 1970s

Folkestone Herald 14-2-1970

Annual Licensing Sessions

Public houses in the High Street and harbour areas of Folkestone had no direct connection with the dis­turbances in the town last year. This was made clear at the annual meeting of Folke­stone's licensing justices on Wednesday. But landlords were warned that it might be dangerous to allow “certain elements” to hold meetings in their pubs.

In his annual report on the administration of the licens­ing laws in the town last year, Chief Superintendent W. Pullinger said “Certain premises in the High Street and harbour areas figured in the public disorders in May and September, but this was coincidental, and generally was no reflection on the con­duct of the premises by the licensees concerned. In fact the consumption of alcoholic liquor appears to have played a very small part in these disturbances”.

The Chairman of the Justices, Mr. F.J. Baden Puller, said the disturbances centred on one public house in particular. Although he did not name the public house, he was referring to the Earl Grey, in the High Street. “As a result of this, objec­tions were made to the transfer of that licence”, he said. We are pleased to learn that there has been no trouble at the public house since, and that our decision to allow the transfer was justified”. He added the warning ‘‘But there may be a danger in allowing certain elements to use public houses as meeting places”.

Chief Superintendent Pull-inger’s report revealed that drunkenness in Folkestone last year had reached its lowest level for five years.

 

Sixteen cases were dealt with by the courts - 11 less than 1968, and the lowest figure since 1964. Licensed premises were regularly visited by police during the year and were generally found to be well conducted, says his report. There were 16 cases of motorists being unfit to drive

through drink. “These prosecutions have not been excessive, but there have been sufficient to indic­ate that drinking and driving is still a great problem and safety hazard”, says the chief superintendent. His report concludes “Firm action by the police in the early part of the year appears to have paid dividends in reducing the number of in­cidents of juveniles drinking, or attempting to obtain alcohol. Although it has been necessary to speak to a few licensees concerning the need for ceasing the sale of drinks promptly at the end of per­mitted hours, there have been no serious contraventions of the liquor licensing laws in this respect”.

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 22-1-1972

Local News

Four public houses in the Folkestone and Hythe areas are among 32 being taken over by Shepherd Neame Ltd., Kent’s only remaining independent brewery.

All 32 belonged to Whitbread-Fremlin Ltd. A Whit­bread’s spokesman on Wed­nesday named local pubs in the takeover as The Earl Grey, Old High Street, Folkestone; Richmond Tav­ern, Margaret Street, Folkestone; Globe Inn, High Street, Hythe; Woolpack Inn, Brookland.

The deal - the price involved was kept secret this week - brings Shepherd Neame's total of houses to 215.

Mr. G.R. Jarvis, licensee of the Black Bull Hotel, Folkestone, and chairman of Folkestone and district Licensed Victuallers’ Associa­tion said “I do not think the changeover will make much difference to the public houses concerned”.

 

Photo from Folkestone Gazette

Folkestone Gazette 23-2-1972

Local News

Takeover bids are signs of our times. So are the swinging emblems of welcome hanging outside many of our public houses.

Which leads me to the question worrying Alf Adams, genial host of the Earl Grey, in Folkestone’s High Street. For the past nine months, Mr. Adams has been the proud possessor of the pub sign pictured above. It depicts the coat of arms of the second Earl Grey, whose work on the Reform Bill earned him a hallowed place in British history. Having gone to a lot of trouble to persuade Whitbread-Fremlin Ltd. to change the sign from the former elephant emblem, Mr. Adams was not surprised at the number of foreign visitors who stopped to photograph it last summer. “Coats of arms like this are part of our heritage”, he said. “Although we take them for granted, they are a great attraction for overseas visitors”. When Mr. Adams heard re­cently that his pub was one of 32 sold to Shepherd Neame Ltd., he was naturally con­cerned about the future of his sign. Several customers suggested sending an S.O.S. - Save Our Sign - to Shep­herd Neame.

This week, a spokesman for the brewery said he sym­pathised with Mr. Adams, but pointed out that the sign belonged to Whitbread-Fremlin, who could, if they chose, decide to keep it. He said that if the sign was acquired by Shepherd Neame it would be easy to change the brewer’s name.

Since the sign can hardly be of much use to Whitbread-Fremlin, I hope they decide to leave it where it is. Apart from anything else, it adds character to Folke­stone’s most photographed street.

Folkestone Gazette 29-11-1972

Local News

“Time gentlemen, please”... time to put your hands in your pockets for the Herald and Gazette Hospitals` Christmas Comfort Fund.

The appeal by Alf Adams, landlord of the Earl Grey in Folkestone`s Old High Street, fell on receptive ears last week. A cheerful bunch of regulars responded by donating £8.50 to the fund. At the same time, they issued a challenge to other pubs in the town. “See if you can beat the Earl Grey”, they said

Since competition among Folkestone’s pubs has always been healthy the Earl Grey may have started the ball rolling. What about YOUR pub? Will the regulars there hop on the wagon for a worthy cause?

The money we collect in the next three weeks or so will go towards helping those people unable to pop down to their local for a Christmas drink. Instead their festivities must be confined to hospitals or homes. Our aim is to take the Christmas spirit to them. Donations, large or small, will be welcomed at the Herald and Gazette Office, The Bayle, Folkestone. Cheques and Postal Orders should be crossed and made out to Hospitals` Comforts Fund. No receipts will be given unless specifically requested. But all donations will be acknowledged in the Gazette.

Folkestone Gazette 14-11-1973

Local News

The darts players at the Earl Grey, in Folkestone`s Old High Street, might not win many championships, but they are real sportsmen. Last year they made several contributions towards the Herald and Gazette Hospitals` Christmas Comforts Fund. This year they have done even better. A cheque for £3.73 arrived at this office before we had even launched the 1973 fund. Landlord Alf Adams tells me that the money was contributed during the pub`s individual darts championship.

Thanks fellows. Let us hope that more pubs and clubs will follow your fine example. Every year the fund helps to make life a little more cheerful for those fated to spend the festive season in hospital. If you would like to help please send your gift, large or small, to Hospitals’ Christ­mas Comforts Fund, Herald and Gazette, The Bayle, Folkestone. Your money will be shared by the Royal Victoria Hos­pital, Folkestone; St. Mary’s Hospital, Etchinghill; Buckland Hospital, Dover; the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Dover; Pirate Springs holi­day home for handicapped children; Eversley House, Horn Street; and Cranbourne, Cheriton.

Folkestone Gazette 18-12-1973

Local News

A 19-YEAR-OLD man was dragged from a public house, punched to the ground and kicked unconscious in Folke­stone's Old High Street. The sequel came on Friday when Folkestone Magistrates fined one of his attackers £100 and ordered him to pay £23 costs.

Trevor Johnson, aged 21, of Eastfield Estate, Folkestone, had pleaded Not Guilty to assaulting seaman David Gibbs and occasioning him actual bodily harm, and to assaulting P.C. Donald Weekes. He was fined £50 for each had offence and ordered to pay £20 towards his legal aid and £3 witnesses’ expenses. He appeared with Richard Beazley, aged 24, of St. Michael’s Court, Folkestone, who pleaded Not Guilty to assaulting Police Sergeant Ian Worlidge.

Chairman Mr. Richard de Bristow, dismissing the case against Beazley, said there was a doubt in the Magis­trates’ mind.

David Gibbs, of Marine Road, Deal, said he went to the same school as       Johnson as about eight years ago. He met Johnson and another man as he was walking his girl friend home. There was a quarrel and the man with Johnson ended up in hospital Mr. Gibbs said that on the following evening he was drinking at the Earl Grey public house in thè Old High Street, Folkestone. Johnson entered with some youths and said “I told you that you wouldn’t get away with it”. Mr. Gibbs said “I was picked off my feet and dragged outside, where I was      thumped in the face, back and body. At one time I was unconscious. When I came to I had cuts on my back, leg, face, neck and the inside of my mouth”.

Answering Miss Diane Wray, who represented both Johnson and Beazley, Mr. Gibbs denied inviting Johnson to fight.

Alfred Agard Adams, licensee of the Earl Grey, described how Mr. Gibbs was “jostled” out of the public bar by three or four youths. Mr. Adams said he went out into the street and saw Mr. Gibbs on the floor being kicked. He identified Johnson as one of those kicking him.

Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Adams, wife of the licensee, said she told one of the men, who was wearing a check jumper to stop kicking Mr. Gibbs. The man said “He put a friend of mine in Canterbury hospital”.

Police Sergeant Ian Worlidge said he spoke to Johnson, who was wearing a red check jumper. Johnson started to walk away, then struck out with the back of his left arm. “I was knocked off balance and fell against a police vehicle”, said Sergeant Worlidge. Johnson was handcuffed. Asked about the fight in the Old High Street, he said “The b*** had me last night, so I fixed him tonight”.

P.C. Donald Weekes said that Beazley tried to go to Johnson`s aid. “I pulled him back and told him to be sensible or he would be arrested”, he said. “Beazley struck my stomach with his right elbow”. P.C. Weekes said that after being arrested Beazley apologised for the assault.

Johnson told the Court that he had not gone into the Earl Grey looking for trouble, but Gibbs invited him outside. He denied punching or kicking Mr. Gibbs.

Photo from Folkestone Gazette

 

Folkestone Gazette 19-2-1975

Gazetteer

Three street lights have been out for some time in Folkestone`s Old High Street. In one respect it is a nuisance. In another, it is a blessing. At least it serves to hide the eyesore site of what was once the World Stores building, next door to the Earl Grey public house. This filthy, tin-strewn and occasionally rat-infested blot on the face of Folkestone is a disgraceful part of the town`s most picturesque thoroughfare.

Alf Adams, landlord of the Earl Grey, is justifiably annoyed and says that the badly-fenced hole is a danger, particularly to young children. At one time there was talk of putting a betting shop there, but the scheme fell through. Nobody seems to know what is going to happen to the hole. Let me make a suggestion. Some­body should tell the owners to get cracking on building – or fill it in. WE DON`T WANT IT.