Picture showing bar area of the Clarendon, date unknown but while under the rule of Jim and Brenda Lewis..

From the Mercury, 7 October 2004.

Above shows licensee Phil Bailey, Deal mayoress Cllr Kath Blackburn, Robert Neame and Stephanie Eldridge.

Hotel provides pulling power

Deal's tourist industry has received a boost with the reopening of the "Clarendon Hotel" in Beach Street following a £600,000 refurbishment.

Brewer Shepherd Neame contributed £450,000 for the renovations and improvements, with the hotel bar licensee, Phil Bailey funding the other £150,000.

It is Shepherd Neame's second major investment in Deal this year, following a £450,000 refurbishment of the "Royal Hotel," just along Beach Street, in January.

The "Clarendon," which dates from 1763, was reopened at a party attended by Shepherd Neame directors, scores of Deal business people and Deal mayoress Cllr Kath Blackburn.

Robert Neame, the brewer's chairman, said: "This investment demonstrates our own belief in Deal as destination for tourists to come and stay in.

"Deal has a great future as a tourist centre, and we hope the new-look Clarendon will help the town go from strength to strength."

After pulling the traditional first pint with Cllr Blackburn, Mr. Neame presented £200 to Maureen Bane, manager of Deal Hospital, who accepted the money on behalf of the hospital's League of Friends.

The refurbishment included revamping the hotel's bar, restaurant and kitchen. Upstairs the dining room has been extensively renovated and the downstairs kitchen has been linked with a new one on the first floor.

All 12 ensuite guest rooms have been given makeovers, and facilities for the disabled have been added throughout.

Advertising feature from the Dover Mercury, 24 March, 2011.

THE best roast on the coast is promised at the new-look "Clarendon Hotel," Beach Street, Deal, where the traditional Mother's Day lunch will be served In style next week.

New owners Sean and Lorraine Humphreys are looking forward to the big day, offering a glass of bubbly to every mum on arrival.

They have given the hotel's ground floor a new, bright and comfy look, with the latest addition of a tapas bar, and the Mother's Day three-course lunch menu is a tempting treat.

There is a choice of four starters, with soup of the day, ginger and chilli fishcakes, farmhouse pate with red onion chutney or crab cocktail.

Main courses include chicken, Kentish beef, gammon or lamb shank, with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Desserts on offer are sticky toffee pudding, lemon meringue pie or apple crumble and custard. There is also a chance to enjoy the lunch with a spectacular sea view, as the "Clarendon" has a prime position virtually opposite Deal Pier. Lorraine and Sean have been in charge since October and left their home in Spain to take on the business, with their family involved too, including Jack as chef and Luke behind the bar.

Sean was a sales marketing director in Spain and the family are glad to be back in their home county, especially taking on the "Clarendon."

The couple saw the potential of the seafront business when they were searching for new venture and there are 12 bedrooms, two restaurants and three bars to organise.

Lorraine said: "We have met some really nice people in Deal and everyone has been really great."

Look out for live music on Sundays from 4prn, traditional pie and mash on Saturdays and charity speed dating nights coming soon.

From the East Kent Mercury, 17 February, 2011.

FORMER LANDLADY DIES, AGED 69

THE funeral was held on Tuesday for Brenda Lewis, a former vice-chairman of the Deal, Walmer and Sandwich LVA.

She was a licensee with her husband Jim for 38 years and retired seven years ago. The couple had been married 51 years.

They had a pub In Ramsgate before moving to Deal where the couple ran "The Clarendon" in Beach Street after "The Lifeboat" on The Strand, warmer. Joan Flynn, who used to be at the "Leather Bottle," Mongeham Road Deal said' "I met them when I was involved in the Licensed Victuallers Association in Thanet, when Jim and Brenda were both active members.

"They helped raise thousands of pounds for a variety of good causes and continued working with the LVA when they moved to Deal.

"She worked hard raising money for charity with fashion shows and charity lunches at "The Clarendon" in the 1990s. "When Brenda was at "The Lifeboat" she made soup for Walmer Lifeboat crew, even if they returned from a 999 call in the middle of the night. She was really good like that:

Mrs Lewis, 69, from Whitfield, leaves a widower Jim, a daughter Julie and grand daughter Jaime.

The funeral was held at Barham. Donations can be made in her memory to Individual chosen charities.

From the Dover Mercury, 26 May, 2011. 70p

NEW-LOOK EATERY IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

Advertising feature

WHETHER it's breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, you are sure of a warm welcome at the new-look "Clarendon."

Newly refurbished and boasting a seafront location with glorious views of the pier and the seafront the new summer menu at the "Clarendon Hotel" is a must to try out.

"We've worked closely with local suppliers to develop our new summer menu," said Lorraine Humphreys, who runs the hotel with her husband Sean and their family.

Indeed, meat and vegetables are all sourced locally, reducing food miles and ensuring the best offers possible for their freshly-cooked dishes.

"Our aim was to develop a menu that offers value for money and hopefully gives people a taste of England by the sea, she added.

Lorraine and husband Sean are entering their seventh month as owners of the "Clarendon."

It is a family-run venture, with their children and extended family all getting involved.

S5ean said: "My son is the main chef, and as we used to live in Spain, we're serving up tapas, paella and sangria as well as our mainly British menu."

They will also serve traditional cream tees, so there really is something for everyone at the "Clarendon."

In the bar, traditional pub grub is available, and a fuller menu is served in the two sea-view restaurant areas.

What's more, most weekends the "Clarendon" plays host to local bands.

The "Clarendon Hotel" is open daily from 9am at 51-53 Beach Street, Deal.

From the Dover Mercury, 3 November, 2011. 70p

PUBGOERS HIT THE RIGHT NOTE

MUSIC made a whole lot of money at a couple of special fundraising gigs in aid of Deal Memorial Trust and Cancer Research UK.

The first was in memory of former Royal Marines bandsman and jazz musician George Sketcher at Dover's the "Louis Armstrong" pub, the second was held at the "Clarendon" in Deal.

Both were organised by Jonathan Sketcher, George's son as a way of remembering his dad and raising cash for two charities close to his heart.

He said: "We're really grateful to Sean and Lorraine at the "Clarendon" and Jacqui Bowles from the Louis for putting the gigs on."

Photo shows Lorraine Humphries from the "Clarendon," Rebecca Carey from cancer Research UK and musician Jonathan Sketcher.

A total of £400 was raised from both events which will be split between the two organisations.

Donations

The first gig, in March, was a reunion of George and Jonathan's band, Runnin on Ice at the "Louis Armstrong" in Maison Dieu Road, Dover.

In true jazz style, a hat was passed around at the end of the gig, so donations to the two charities could be made.

The "Clarendon" was the host to the second gig where Jonathan's other band Strange Star played, supported by jazz funk band Bus Stop and Phantomic.

He added: "It was a really good day. The "Clarendon" was packed."

George Sketcher, a well known and talented tenor saxophonist, died after suffering a brain tumour. At the time he was living in Southampton.

He had been donating to Cancer Research UK before he died, and as the barracks at Deal were a big part of his history, Jonathan decided to raise cash for the bandstand too.

From the Dover Mercury, 9 February, 2012. 80p ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

CANDLELIGHT AND BUBBLY FOR VALENTINE'S DINERS.

Staff at the "Clarendon" toast to a happy Valentine's Day for all their customers.

Picture: Paul Amos PD1988881

LOVE will be in the air at the "Clarendon Hotel," Deal, as couples enjoy a special and delicious Valentine's menu.

As the candlelight shimmers and taste buds are tempted, if there is a proposal of marriage - it has to be accepted! - there could even be a chance of a free bottle of bubbly to celebrate.

Sean Humphreys from the "Clarendon" said: "We will be giving away champagne to couples just moments after the engagement ring comes out of the box!

"When the lovers have agreed to marry, we could even give them details of our civic weddings at the "Clarendon" and they could book up immediately!"

The "love stuff” menu features a starters choice of mussel and saffron soup, salmon mousse with wasabi and pea shoots, or brushetta tricolour with grilled haloumi.

Beef, seafood or pork dishes are the trio of mains and desserts are champagne jelly, apple tarte or white chocolate cheesecake.

Sean and his wife Lorraine have been at the Beach Street business since October 2010 and run the hotel, restaurant and pub, which is in an ideal position opposite Deal Pier.

He said: "We have a good mixture of visitors staying at the "Clarendon," even people from Deal! Apart from the hotel, the bar and restaurant are busy too, with about 250 people coming on Sundays for our music sessions, which start at 4pm." Friday fish and chips night is also proving popular and the family have plans to open a cafe soon. The business has been short-listed in two sections of the White Cliffs Business of the Year Awards. The finals are in March.

From the East Kent Mercury, 21 May 2015,by Eleanor Perkins.

Big plans for Clarendon.

The new owners of the "Clarendon Hotel" in Deal have revealed it will be an assortment of enterprises including a Burger Bros diner and an Indian restaurant as well as a bar, cafe and hotel.

Bought by the Keystone Group for nearly £750,000, the historic building has already started its £250,000 refurbishment which includes a new roof.

Chief executive Robin Norris said: "It's going to be quite different to the way it was and it's going to be completely different to the other hotels in Deal."

The Beach Street hotel closed in July last year and was put on the market in August.

The Keystone Group, which also owns "No 5 Bar and Kitchen" in South Street, Deal, withdrew its first bid, with the feeling it needed too 'much work. It was then asked to submit another, which was successful. Contracts were exchanged in January and the sale completed on April 7.

The company indicated the building was too big for one operator, which prompted it to lease parts of it out.

If current plans go ahead, the ground floor will be split into four sections. Two will be occupied by the Keystone Group and one unit will be a small bar area where guests will collect their keys. Adjacent to it will be a cafe.

Diner-style restaurant Burger Bros, previously of the "Deal Hoy" in Duke Street, will be situated on the ground floor as well as the first floor, which will be a restaurant catering for 40 covers. Owner Karl Wozny has pledged to spend about £40,000 to develop both parts.

At the back of the ground floor will be an Indian restaurant.

The rest of the building will be rooms but they are getting a facelift. In time, the Keystone Group is looking to develop all 17 of them with a nautical theme.

The company is also looking into having a pool car for guests, creating a walking audio tour of Deal as well as offering bike hire and a notice-board for tourists.

It is thought the hotel will open in three stages.

'A lot of funky people coming'

The Keystone Group intends to open some of the rooms in about six weeks. The company has its own building team but has employed local scaffold services and decorators.

It is hoped the entire building will be fully functioning by March 2016.

Keystone Group chief executive Robin Norris said the rooms would be improved.

He said: "At the moment they're very mahogany. They're going to be clean, tidy and fresh and much cheaper.

"There's a lot of funky people coming to Deal. I think it's going to be a place that a lot of London will end up in,"

He wants to direct people to places like Middle Street and the "Ship Inn," rather than encouraging guests to find all their needs under one roof.

He added: "People should be utilizing local facilities.”

From the Dover Mercury, 6 October, 2016.

Owner hands over picture to daughter of venue's former bosses

Painting given in memory of popular pub couple

Photo left showing Brenda and Jim Lewis who ran the pub for 18 years. Photo right, showing Julie Cooper bring presented the painting by Robin Norris.

The daughter of a former landlord and landlady at The Clarendon in Deal has been presented with an original painting of the pub in their memory.

Julie Cooper, a reception sales administrator for the East Kent Mercury, received the gift from Robin Norris, the current owner of the Beach Street establishment.

He gave it on behalf of his parents, Peter Senior and Bernie Norris, who were long-term friends of Mrs Cooper’s late parents, Jim and Brenda Lewis.

After the presentation on Wednesday last week, Mrs Cooper said: “It’s such a kind and thoughtful gesture and a fitting tribute to my mum and dad.”

The painting, by John Burrows, has been framed and engraved with the wording: “In memory of Jim and Brenda Lewis ‘The Duke and Duchess of The Clarendon’.”

Mr and Mrs Lewis ran the pub for 18 years from 1988, transforming it into a nightclub as well as a restaurant, bar and hotel.

Mrs Cooper said: “It was Deal’s first nightclub, open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

“It helped to put Deal on the map and gave a lot of local people employment.”

Mrs Cooper says the painting will take pride of place in her home in Salisbury Road, where she lives with her husband Andy, and 10-year-old daughter, Jamie.

She has worked for the KM Group for six years.