GRAPES Pub of Gravesend

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Gravesend, November, 2023.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 11 November, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1843

1990 (Name from)

Grapes

1983 (Name to)

Open 2023+

153 Milton Road

Gravesend

01474 533994

https://www.grapesgravesend.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/grapes

Above photo, circa 1900, kindly supplied by Jason Kemsley.

Above photo 2008 by David Anstiss Creative Commons Licence.

Photos taken on 17 May, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by emdjt24.

Above photo August 2021, kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick.

Above photo, 10 May 2022.Kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick.

Above photo 2023, kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick.

Above sign left, June 1977. Sign right, August 1992.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above sign left 2010. Sign right 2014.

This is another pub that started of with the name it is operating under again, and changed name to "Valentino's" from between 1983 and 1990. The earliest it has been found is 1843.

East Kent Gazette, Saturday 26 February 1870.

Fire at Milton.

On Monday night, a fire broke out in the stables at the rear of the "Grapes" beerhouse Chalkwell-road, Milton, which at one time threatened the destruction of the surrounding buildings. It was entirely through the kind assistance rendered to Mr. W Stone, the landlord, that the fire was confined to the stables. The cause of the accident is not known.

The pub reopened in the summer of 2021, but closed again in May 2022.

Shepherd Neame have subsequently painted over their corporate signage and it is expected to be converted into flats.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 14 June 2023.

The Grapes pub, in Gravesend town centre, to reopen by owner of The Bas Bar, in Strood.

A town centre pub is set to reopen with new owners following a £200,000 revamp.

The Grapes, in Gravesend, closed its doors early last year and was auctioned off by brewery Shepherd Neame.

Manager Esther Larney and owner Steve Basi 2023

From left: Manager Esther Larney and owner Steve Basi hope to bring something new to the town.

It was snapped up only months later by businessman Steve Basi, who also owns The "Bas Bar" in Strood, (Indian Restaurant in Rochester actually) and who has spent a year revamping the entire public house.

He told KentOnline: “It is what is missing in Gravesend. It has been a long time in the making.

“We want to bring it back in to the community and create a place where people feel safe.”

Alongside manager Esther Larney, the pair are hoping to bring something different to town that has an upmarket and premium feel similar to what punters would find in London.

The team have been refurbing the public house for around a year.

She said: “It is really nice to bring it back to being a freehold pub.

“It was at a point, it was a little neglected. It needed a bit of love and care and it was not getting it.

“It is going to be the long awaited reopening. It is exciting.

“It is going to be lovely, we are spending a lot of money to get it back to where it should be.”

The public house is undergoing a £200,000 refurbishment to bring it back to life including installing a bespoke bar, a garden wall ceiling, outdoor seating area and fresh coats of paint.

It will also introduce food and will serve premium products and cocktails.

Although the pub, on the corner of Milton Road, will become part of The Bas Bar company, it will still be known as The Grapes.

“We could absolutely not change the name,” Esther, who was the former assistant manager at the branch in Strood, added.

“The Grapes is the Grapes. It is a landmark of Gravesend.”

They are hoping to open by the end of the month, although a date is yet to be set.

LICENSEE LIST

JOEL Henry 1855-62+ (age 47 in 1861)

STONE W Mr 1870+

DEE Alfred Henry 1874-78+

JOEL William 1881-82+ (age 30 in 1881)

TOWN George 1891+

WAGHORN George 1901-03+ (age 42 in 1901)

SCOTTON Horace E 1913+

VOOGHT Lewis 1922-30+

HODGES James Ernest 1938+

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

From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Census

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

TOP