Updates

5th June, 2015: South Kent Gazette and Folkestone Herald Reports for 1982 Added

Norfolk Cellar Bar, Langhorne Gardens c1980 - 1982

Licensees
Ian Fell and Simon Fell 1982 c 1995 Renamed Harvey`s Wine Bar

South Kent Gazette 3-12-1980

Canterbury Crown Court

A former Lydd man who hit another man with a beer glass was put on probation for two years and ordered to pay £100 legal costs at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday. Peter Bryan, now of Anson Road, Tuffnall Park, pleaded Not Guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Carl Yearsley in May, 1979.

Mr. Christopher Hookway, prosecuting, said Bryan and another man called Michael Blythe were in the cellar bar of Folkestone`s Norfolk Hotel when there was some sort of staring encounter between them and Yearsley. Blythe spoke to Yearsley, who then went up to the two men and suggested they went outside. Blythe and Yearsley left, followed by Bryan, and outside Bryan saw Yearsley on the ground with Blythe on top hitting Yearsley, said Mr. Hookway. “Yearsley was hit with a pint glass by Bryan, and remembered no more until he woke up in hospital”, he said.

Bryan had a number of previous convictions, but his counsel, Mr. J. French, said he had left the area now and was living and working successfully in London. At the time Bryan lived at Brooks Way, Lydd, and Mr. French said he bitterly regretted the incident. “He realises he is in serious trouble and it was a very foolish thing to do but it seems the only injury caused by the glass was a cut to Yearsley`s forehead. Thi matter has been hanging over him for a long time and he has felt remorse ever since”.

South Kent Gazette 4-2-1981

Rochester Crown Court

A man involved in a fight that went too far was given a suspended prison sentence last Tuesday after a judge described it as a case of “least said, soonest mended”.

Michael Blythe, formerly of St. John`s Street, Folkestone, pleaded Guilty at Rochester Crown Court to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm. But Judge John Streeter, imposing a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, said “One is bound to bear in mind this is not your first charge involving violence, but I accept the part the victim played in this, though I dare say he expected a fair fight”.

Earlier, the Court heard how an argument between Blythe and a friend, and the victim, Karl Yearsley, developed into a fight outside the Norfolk Hotel, in Folkestone. Blyth was on top of Yearsley and his accomplice was kicking him and hitting him with a beer glass. The other man involved had already been dealt with by the courts.

Mr Anthony Webb, defend­ing, said Blyth, who now lives at New Addington, accepted that the fight had gone too far. But initially it was the victim, Yearsley, who was responsible, in part, at least, for what happened.

Folkestone Herald 20-8-1982

Advertising Feature

Wine bars tend to have a snobby image where the customers prefer to discuss whether wine grown on a north or south facing slope is better, rather than drink. They`ve also got a reputation for being expensive, where a credit card and not a wallet is the order of the day. But Ian Fell and his brother, Mark, aim to change all that with the opening of their wine bar, Harvey`s, in Sandgate Road, Folkestone. A wide variety of wines to suit everyone`s pocket, with cheap and plentiful food, plus the cosy atmosphere of the cellar bar add up to a great night out that will not cost you a fortune.

Harvey`s is situated in what used to be the basement bar of the Norfolk Hotel, now renamed the Langhorne Gardens Hotel, and taken over by Mark and Ian`s parents, Doug and Audrey. The hotel is undergoing extensive renovations to change its image, under the watchful eye of Doug and Audrey Fell, both veterans of the hotel and licensed trade.

Ian, too, has plenty of experience to call on, beginning with three years learning the nuts and bolts at catering college. But the day-to-day realities of the trade were learnt at the exclusive Cafe Royal in London, where Ian spent seven years, ending up as deputy banqueting manager in charge of a £13 million a year turnover. That included a drinks bill of £250,000 a year! Despite the attractions of the Cafe Royal, Ian wanted to start up his own wine bar. He hunted for premises all over London, but his search was fruitless until his parents took over the Norfolk. The cellar bar presented an ideal challenge, so Ian came back to the town he was brought up in. London`s loss became Folkestone`s gain. “We felt there was a need for another wine bar in the town, and Harvey`s gives us the sort of image we`re looking for”, said Ian. The wine starts at 55p a glass or £3.30 for Ian`s own label house wine. The selection is enormous, with wines from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and California, and even champagne for that special occasion. There`s food too, from toasted sandwiches, ploughman`s lunch (75p) to a very reasonably priced, locally caught, trout, with peas and chips, at only £1.95.

Ian hopes to get the population of Folkestone drinking wine in a big way and plans to extend the wine bar later in the year to include a cosy seated area at the back for diners. Cocktails are also promised in the near future. It sounds like 1982 is going to be a very good year.

 

 

 

True Briton (1) 1970s - 1980s

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 19^th 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.