CAREER CHANGE: Christine Gabriel, former teacher and now owner of Blake's restaurant and B&B

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Above photo and information taken from Dover Mercury 11 March 2004.

THE best lesson Christine Gabriel learnt was to give up her job as a teacher and follow her dreams.

Christine and her husband Roger are the new owners of Blake's restaurant and B&B in Dover.

After 13 years teaching English and drama at Dover grammar school for boys Christine felt the time was right for a change and the couple bought the Castle Street property in January this year.

Christine says: "I needed a change from teaching. I finished my training in 1978, and had taught all ages since then.

"I used to see the same issues coming round again, and there were constant pressures, such as Ofsted inspections."

Originally Christine thought about opening a book or a coffee shop. The Blake's building was the first property in Dover she looked at. She fell in love with it, and decided to keep the restaurant and B&B set-up.

The business seems to attract former teaching staff; one of the bar staff is an ex-teacher. Christine's husband taught at Dover grammar school for boys for 11 years and now works in the Dover Discovery Centre as an adult education regional manager.

Some of Christine's former pupils have also visited.

Christine describes her manager role as being "a jack of all trades".

She said: "I check that everything is in place for opening and what the chef's specials are. I greet customers during opening hours. But I can also end up trying to sort out plumbing issues if they need tackling."

She adds that her husband Roger often ends up working behind the bar when he visits during his lunch break.

Christine says the best part of her role is meeting interesting customers and chatting to them. One customer has even recited Keats in the downstairs bar.

She also likes the fact that her hours mean she can get up slightly later in the morning. Her working day usually runs from 10am to around 11pm.

Her plans for the building include opening the garden and adding more vegetarian items to the menu.

Friends and colleagues had mixed reactions to Christine's new venture.

"Some said we were mad, while others said go for it," she says.

The thing she misses most about teaching are her pupils and the laughs they had.

Christine and Roger live in St Richard's Road, in Deal. They have lived in Deal for nearly 25 years and have two children, Mark, 22, and Sophie, 18.

Sophie hopes her mother's change of career will come in handy for a summer job during university holidays.

From the Dover Mercury, 30 June 2006.

Pub Revamp: New owners plan change.

Blakes of Dover has been taken over by Peter and Kathryn Garstin, pictured with chef Fay Cudworth, left, and second chef Patsy Allan.

NEW beers, changed menus and more choice of wines are some of the plans the owners have for Blakes of Dover in Castle Street. Peter and Kathryn Garstin have just the bought the business, which incorporates a bar, restaurant and overnight accommodation.

The couple, both 52, live in Eythorne, have been married for 30 years and have four grown-up children.

Before turning to the hospitality trade, Peter worked in the Middle East as an international banker for most of his career.

Then for the last three years they were tenant landlords at The "Yew Tree Inn" in Barfrestone. When the lease finished in January they left and began a search to buy a pub and restaurant.

"Blakes was the right price and it will be a good business,” said Peter.

Peter, a self-confessed 'real ale fanatic', plans to have up to 20 ales for sale every week. Last year their last pub won CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year Award for Dover, Deal and Sandwich. He said: "We expect to win it again soon."

"He doesn't serve a beer that is not first class," said Kathryn.

Blakes is known for its 52-strong range of single malts and is something the Garstins are keen to continue.

But the couple wish to stamp their own identity on the business and are working with head chef Fay Cudworth to change the menu on a daily basis, introducing more fresh, seasonal and locally produced food. They will also change the wine list.

From the Dover Mercury 15 March 2007.

On hearing plans about the forthcoming redevelopment of St James' area of Dover, Blakes Wind Bar have put in the following objection, being told that they will lose their garden.

Pub needs gardens.

OBJECTIONS to the proposals came from the Campaign for Real Ale, which said customers at Blakes in Castle Street would miss the garden behind the pub and restaurant.

A CAMRA spokesman said: "The garden is an asset, with its high clematis, covered flint walls providing a unique and surprisingly tranquil respite from the busy town.

"Its loss to Blakes would be critical and it is requested the plans be amended to keep the garden intact."

From the Dover Mercury 15 March 2007.

METER BROKEN FOR FOUR MONTHS.

BROKEN parking meter in Castle Street has gone unrepaired for at least four months despite the cost of tickets rising up to 83.3 per cent this year.

The machine, close to the Market Square, has been covered in Out of Order tape since February and it means that people who want to park on the stretch of road closest to the Market Square have to walk the length of Castle Street to find an alternative ticket machine or risk a penalty notice.

It came to light when the Mercury photographed "Blakes" of Dover proprietors Peter and Catherine Garstin beside the meter in February when they launched a protest against what they called a “deplorable” hike in fees.

In January the cost of parking in Castle Street for two hours went up by a pound to £2.20.

Pacific Ocean Furniture sales assistant Mark Scamp said: “It's been going on for months and people do complain about it.”

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of this matter. There have been technical issues with the power supply to this machine and we have been in discussion with EDF for some time to try to resolve this.

“We continue to work to find a solution to this matter as soon as possible.”