Sandgate High Street

Sandgate

Above postcard circa 1956, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo 1960s.

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Whyman

The census 1861 lists both the "Royal Kent Hotel" and the "Kent Tap" on the same page, actually with just another premises between, so obviously the Tap room for the Hotel.

It looks as though the "Kent Tap" didn't enjoy the Royal prefix of its neighbour, the "Royal Kent Hotel," which had its own residents' bar. Given that hotel taps were the use of servants, ostlers, tradesmen and other working people (who weren't hotel guests) perhaps the "Royal Kent Hotel" reserved its Royal prefix for the folk that could afford the room rates?

LICENSEE LIST

MARSH Richard 1832+

HOGBEN Edward 1851-71+ (age 60 in 1861)

SHAVE Catherine Mrs 1874+

WATTS Elizabeth 1881-91+ (widow age 70 in 1881)

HOLT Frederick 1901+ (age 25 in 1901)

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

Census