DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, March, 2021.

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 31 March, 2021.
PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1948

 East Cliff Hotel

Latest 1987

28 East Cliff

Dover

East Cliff Hotel May 1965

Above photo, May 1965, kindly sent by Paul Wells.
East Cliff Hotel

East Cliff Hotel circa 1980.
east Cliff Hotel 2012

Above photo taken by Emma Haddon, April 2012.
East Cliff Hotel 1992

Photo 1992 by kind permission Dover Library ILL/4420.

 

Built in 1828 and used by the Admiralty in times of war, it was transformed into a hotel by Mrs. Kidd about 1948 and titled the "Sydney Villas". Although operating as such in the early fifties, the table licence was not granted before 1959 and the restaurant and residential licence followed in 1963. New ownership in 1961 may have meant the status of the hotel changed. It was often referred to as the Channel Swimmers Rest. Christies of Canterbury offered the house for sale in 1983. Mrs. Blanchard had utilised it as a sixteen bed hotel since 1970 to that year.

After 1983 the house incorporated a public bar. 1986 saw that licence refused for irregularities and although it was restored shortly after it was refused again in 1987. It was stated then that the renewal could only be considered if and when the public bar became an independent and separate entity to the hotel.

About 1990 it was painted pink, and locally gained the name of the "Pink Palace."

 

From the Dover Express, 4 June 2015. By Jordan Bluer.

BMW driver at inquest for A20 death verdict.

Pedestrian was not visible to motorist.

East Cliff Hotel 2015

THE death of a 31-year-old man who was hit by a car on Townwall Street last year was an ‘unfortunate accident’, a coroner has ruled.

BMW driver Becky-Lee Dre-witt, 32, crashed into software engineer Simon Howard as she drove home from a shift at a Canterbury hotel shortly after midnight in May.

The inquest at Folkestone Coroner’s Court heard Mr Howard had been drinking alcohol, was wearing dark clothing and would not have been visible to the driver as he walked into the road.

Oncoming.

Police concluded Ms Drewitt, who was driving within the speed limit, would have had insufficient time to see Mr Howard before the accident.

An officer also said Mr Howard, as he approached the road, would have been able to see the oncoming car for some time.

Coroner Christine Freedman lodged a verdict of accidental death.

Friends and family paid tribute to the “extremely intelligent” Mr Howard in an Express article last year. His mum, Alison Howard said: “He was a bright boy, a very private individual and very independent.

“He lived quietly but had quite a circle of friends. His colleagues
said he used to put in long hours and was enthusiastic.”

Mr Howard, a resident of East Cliff Hotel for six years, enjoyed taking private walks at night and was “like a member of the family” according to owner Victoria Evans.

She told the Express Mr Howard was shy but “good company”.

“We could talk about science, politics, history The last thing we talked about was Marie Antoinette.

“He was a marvellous man. Even now I can imagine him walking through the door, it’s such a shame.”

 

LICENSEE LIST

KIDD Mrs Ann 1948-61 end (Pikes 48-49 no name given)

KIDD J R 1953

KIDD Mrs A 1954-61

DE Grange Cazeaux 1961

WALKER Mr and Mrs 1970

BLANCHARD Mrs Carmine Alice 1970-8

BLANCHARD Mr C 1978-83

EVANS Mrs Victoria 1984

BRIDGET Mrs 1987

ARLEN Harold 1987 (East Cliff Tavern)

GORMAN Peter 1987 (East Cliff Tavern)

 

Pikes 48-49From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1948-49

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-
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