2008
DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Gillingham, August, 2024.

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 20 August, 2024.
PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest ????

 Hope Inn

Closed 1989

53 Church Street

Gillingham

53 Church Street 2017

Above Google image June 2017, showing 53 Church Street, which doesn't look like it was a public house to me.

 

Ind Coope & Co Ltd purchased the pub from Budden & Biggs Brewery Ltd by conveyance and assignment dated 23 March 1931. The pub held a beer only license.

The Lost Pubs Project gives the address of this as Saunders Street and says it has now been converted back to residential use. Further information says it was 100-102 Saunders Street.

 

100-102 Saunders Street 2017

Above Google image, October 2008, showing what was 100-102 Saunders Street, now identified as 100, 100A and 100B.

 

This one to me still seems to be full of confusion as to the correct location, but the Facebook page titled "The Pubs of the Medway Towns" does seem to suggest that it was addressed in Saunders Street and not Church Street, unless of course there were two with the same name, or less likely that the street had changed name. Peter lodge goes on to say that the pub was certainly open for business on Christmas day 1988 but had closed the following year.

Local knowledge, further pictures, and licensee information would be appreciated.

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

 

From an email received 19 August 2024.

Hi,

I do vividly recall the "Hope" in Gillingham. Around 1975/6 I was taken there by a dynamic young lady I was seeing known as Randy Ann. The pub was full of Teddy Boys who were a throwback to the fifties and they were not beyond throwing out anyone who took the Mickey or didn't respect them. It was a very tough pub but thanks to Ann and me being a biker I was accepted and spent many happy hours there playing bar billiards to fifties rock and roll music.

From there the memory becomes vague but I seem to recall Shepherd Neame and Ben Truman beers, both hoppy and bitter. The Trumans may have been keg but was one of the best kegs around. I was sorry to hear that the place had closed.

I recall the building as a red brick kerbside pub but could not say if it was the place in your photo.

I wonder what became of Ann?

Best wishes,

Tony Bennett.

 

LICENSEE LIST

COCKRILL James 1918-22+

SHOWLER Frederick 1930+

MUNSEN W C 1938+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/HopeInn.shtml

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/hopeinn.html

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-
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