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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Max Chesson, 11 March 2023.
From Ed Sheeran to Micky Flanagan, the Britannia Inn in Dungeness is a
'hidden gem' pub loved by celebs.
Given its remote location, the Britannia Inn doesn't seem the most
likely destination for the likes of Ed Sheeran to drop in for a drink. But the pub in Dungeness has become quite the celebrity hotspot.
Richard Davis has been the licensee for six years and says that during
his time at the establishment, he’s seen Grammy-winning artists, BAFTA-nominated
actors and footballers rock up and enjoy a pint.
In fact, they get so many celebrities that Richard and the staff even
have a "no selfies" rule, something he believes helps attract big names
to the tavern.
The 57-year-old told KentOnline: “In the past we’ve had Peter Andre,
Suggs, Christopher Eccleston, Lee Ryan - obviously Micky Flanagan has
done some promo work here.
“It’s nice to have these faces come in, have a chat about the football
or the rugby, like you would in any pub.
“That’s before we even get into the footballers - who I won’t mention.
“We get so many writers as well, it’s such a special part of the world.
“It’s a beautiful, natural place, and I suppose they love that aspect of
it."
Dungeness has previously been dubbed "Britain's only desert", although
the Met Office says it gets too much rainfall to officially qualify for
that status.
Nevertheless, it's certainly a far cry from the hustle and bustle many
of the Britannia's famous visitors are used to.
"People do have to actively visit us - you don’t just walk past it like
you would elsewhere," said Richard.
Comedian Micky Flanagan visited the Britannia Inn in Dungeness to put
together some promo material for his upcoming tour.
"But it’s nice to have a good reputation that brings people back. It’s a
hidden gem, definitely.”
Comedian Micky Flanagan is the latest big name to have been spotted at
the Romney Marsh pub, having visited back in September to snap promo
pictures for his upcoming tour.
The image captures the 60-year-old funnyman looking a bit glum with a
glass of Whitstable Bay beer.
However, Richard confirmed that far from being miserable, Micky was a
good sport.
“He had a couple of pints while he was here. He was a nice guy and
funny," he said.
“I asked him if he'd do a gig and he said 'how many people will there
be?’”
Other famous faces who have made use of the pub include comedian and
conservationist Bill Oddie, actors Lindsey Coulson, Geoff Bell and
George Irving - as well as radio DJ Zoe Ball.
But by far the biggest star to have stepped foot into the pub is
four-time Grammy and seven-time Brit award winner Ed Sheeran.
The musician and his wife Cherry Seaborn have become well acquainted
with the area, having bought and converted an old 1880s railway carriage
along the coast last summer for £650,000.
He has also been pictured grabbing some fish and chips in nearby
Greatstone.
Daisy Haggard wrote BBC series Back to Life, which used the Britannia
Inn as a set. Picture: Luke Varley.
However, far from being starstruck by the 32-year-old, staff at the
Britannia have somehow failed to recognise the musician on more than one
occasion, something Richard chuckles at as he tells the story.
The Hythe-born resident said: “It’s not the sort of place you expect to
see someone, so when you do see someone it can raise eyebrows.
“But Ed Sheeran came in unrecognised for four visits. On the surface
he’s got this scruffy ginger face and he’s got one of those faces that
blends in.
“I’d say word does spread around that we’ve got a nice, respectful pub
down here that welcomes anyone without making them uncomfortable.”
Known as ‘Smugglers’ for a brief period in the 1990s, the pub has roots
back to 1862 and was rebuilt in the 1930s, having originally stood
closer to the seafront.
Owned by Shepherd Neame since 2003, the bar isn’t just a good place for
celebrities to come in and have a quiet pint.
Big BBC productions have made use of the pub for filming.
“We’ve had EastEnders in before, they’ve come down on a few occasions,"
said Richard.
“Daisy Haggard, who wrote [BBC comedy drama] Back to Life, has used the
pub as well for filming.
“It definitely makes for an interesting film location as the area is so
unique. It’s the only shingle desert in the UK. It’s like a moonscape
down there.”
"There’s no selfies, no autographs, we just treat them normally..."
Richard believes that the appeal of the pub to celebrities is both its
location and the staff’s attitude towards creating a safe haven for
stars to drink at.
With a father who worked in showbiz, and a sister who is an author,
Richard says his visits to TV sets as a child have helped form his
behaviours towards famous people.
“My dad worked in television, I used to go on set with him a lot and
from that we were always taught not to ask for autographs, and that’s
stuck with us," he said.
“So there’s no selfies, no autographs - we just treat them normally.
“If they’re happy enough they’ll offer but we don’t encourage it. They
just want to talk about the area and the pub."
Richard suggests that even more well-known faces have popped in which
excite the younger members of staff a bit more - but that as pop culture
changes so frequently, it’s hard to stay on top.
His staff have previously pointed out Instagram influencers and Love
Island contestants to him, but he admits he struggles to recall their
names.
“Celebrity culture has massively changed - a lot of famous people that
are out there now I don’t know,” said Richard.
“I don’t know what an influencer is, I don’t know who was a Love Island
star. We’ve got the younger ones who I couldn’t even name and they’re
always on their phones.
“The younger members of staff get a bit more excited for those, and they
tell me ‘that’s so-and-so’.
“But the older generation, they’re a lot more relaxed and whether people
recognise them or not just does depend on their age, there are such a
wide range of people.” |
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