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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Max Chesson, 15 September 2025.
Bid to reopen former Ravensgate Arms in King Street, Ramsgate as pub
after closure of Eats and Beats restaurant.
A failed pub-turned-restaurant with more than 150 years of history
could be turned back into a pub under fresh plans.
The Ravensgate Arms in King Street, Ramsgate, which dates back to at
least 1867, shut in April 2023 before being turned into the Eats n
Beats restaurant.
Ramsgate Brewery boss Eddie Gadd, who stepped in to save the
Ravensgate in 2017, admitted spiralling costs and dwindling numbers
were proving too much to bear when he closed the boozer two years
ago.
"Eats n Beats" bosses, the venue’s latest owners, were met with the
same fate in August, bringing the shutters down and surrendering the
lease.
But now, plans to convert it back into a pub have been revealed –
though as a smaller venue than before.
In order to make the business viable, the proposal also includes the
conversion of the first floor into a self-contained flat.
“With the present climate within the hospitality business, running a
town centre public house or restaurant is proving to be a very
difficult thing to do,” he said.
The Ravensgate Arms during Covid.
“At present, the restaurant has closed down due to lack of clients
and the only way the owner can see to continue to operate the ground
floor is to have a regular income from a flat on the first floor.
“If the flat was accepted, then the ground floor can still be let as
a community venue, albeit, with less space for clients.
“The alternative is for the building to remain empty, slowly
decaying within the town centre of Ramsgate.”
The building has since been boarded up, with workers on Friday heard
inside the building.
A decision is yet to be made on the scheme by TDC.
Opening as the "Chatham Arms" in 1867, the King Street building has
seen a variety of changes in both name and use.
It was also known as the "Koumbas Arms,"
"Hamilton Tavern" and
"Maguires"
as a boozer.
Prior to this, it was originally a school building for more than
three decades. |
