From the Kentish Gazette, 5 September 1865 St Augustine`s PS.bmp"

ST AUGUSTINE’S PETTY SESSIONS.

Saturday. (Before Geo. Neame, Esq., Captain Slarke, T. H. Mackay, Esq., William Plummer, Esq., T. G. Peckham, Esq., and P. Marten, Esq.)

The Annual Licensing Day.

HERNE BAY.

....

Mr. Thomas Revill then applied for authority to obtain a spirit license for the "Refreshment Rooms" recently erected near the Clock Tower. Mr. Gee, who supported the application said the "Refreshment Rooms" could hardly be considered a public-house in the usual acceptation of that term.

They were situated in a position much frequented by visitors, for whose use they were principally intended. One of the rooms was sufficiently large to accommodate 500 people, and three other rooms of a less public character would accommodate about 100. Nearly £2,000 had been expended on the premises, and he had a memorial signed by most of the inhabitants of the vicinity, setting forth that the licensing of the rooms would be a great boon not only to visitors but to the public generally. In reply to Captain Slarke, it was stated that it was not contemplated to open the "Refreshment Rooms" on Sundays, but the applicant could not give any pledge to that effect as it would depend on circumstances.

The Magistrates, after a brief consultation, decided to grant all three applications.