Thanet Times, Tuesday 8 April 1986.

Town rallies round to help blind.

Money has started to pour into a special fund for the blind following the news that Kent County Council had withdrawn a grant.

Mr. Jim Barrett, chairman of Ramsgate Local Committee for the Welfare of the Blind, had accused the county of meanness in withdrawing their £100 grant.

Within hours of the report appearing in our sister paper the Isle of Thanet Gazette on Friday. Ramsgate councillor David Pettit said Mr. Peter Coleman, proprietor of "Steptoes" pub in the town, had offered £100.

Cllr. Pettit matched it with £100 and the fund was launched.

Cllr. Pettit said chairman of South Thanet Tories Mrs. Irene Maggs added £20 and there have also been donations from former Ramsgate mayors Cllr. George Smith and Cllr. Charles Sharp.

Leading hotelier Pat Doyle, publican Bernard Baldwin and Southern Fruiterers added to the fund.

The fund will be kept open for a while longer to enable members of the public to make a donation. Cllr. Pettit hopes it will top £500.

"People have been eager to contribute and ensure the blind helped by the Ramsgate Local Committee do not suffer." he said.

Thanet Times, Wednesday 28 May 1986.

UNIQUE PUB IS SET FOR SUMMER

The finishing touches to Thanet's latest "tourist attraction". "Steptoes Pub," in Ramsgate, have now been completed.

A "Roundabout bar" and cocktail bar have recently been installed, and home-cooked lunchtime food is now available at very reasonable prices.

"Ozzics", the nightclub linked to the pub, now has a restaurant and had its license extended from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The pub was officially opened on Wednesday and visited by members of Thanet Council.

Owner Julie Childs said:- The council is really behind the tourist attraction idea. It has already brought 42 coach and tour operators to the pub to publicise it as a real tourist attraction.

"After all, there is nothing like "Steptoes" in the whole of Kent."

The pub has been open since December and is decorated like the inside of Albert Steptoe's junk shop, from the television series "Steptoe and Son."