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Goodnestone Street
Goodnestone
01304 840303 / 07710 864893
https://www.fitzwalterarms.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/fitzwalter-arms
Above photo circa 1900, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above postcard circa 1910. |
Above photo, circa 1952, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, 1960s, kindly sent by Michael Mirams. |
Above photo, circa 1970, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photos showing the pub in December 2012. Kindly sent by the
licensees December 2012. |
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Above photo Fitzwalter Arms in Goodnestone in 1988, by kind
permission of Dover Library. |
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Above two photos of Fitzwalter Arms in Goodnestone in
June 1996, now Shepherd Neame, by kind
permission of Dover Library. |
 
Above photos by Paul Skelton August 2008.
 
Fitzwalter Arms signs above, July 1991.
Above sign July 1993 with thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com
Photo below shows the back of the pub, same date. |
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Signs shows June 2011 by Paul Skelton. |
Originally built in 1589, this pub has seen many changes over the years,
according to the documentation found hanging on the wall inside the pub, it
has always been called the "Bridges
Arms" from its first license as a beer house in 1703.
However, I have found documentation of another pub in Goodnestone, mentioned
as early as 1770 called the "Three
Crowns". From records held at the East Kent Archives Centre at Whitfield,
they have 21 documents in a bundle that mentions the "Three Crowns" in Goodnestone Street (EK-U373/T6) 1770-1826.
I am wondering whether this is the same.
However, Michael David Miriams in his 1987 book "Kent Inns and Inn Signs"
say the following:- The "Fitzwalter Arms" may have been known to Jane
Austen, but not as a public house. The authoress spent some time at the
Goodnestone Park home of her brother Edward and his wife Elizabeth, daughter
of Sir Brook Bridges. The inn was probably a gate lodge at that time, as the
list of landlords dates only from 1862. Until c.1900 it was called the
"Bridges Arms," but is now the property of Lord and Lady Fitzwalter, who
lease the premises to the brewery.
The pub is now a Shepherd Neame tied house called the "Fitzwater
Arms".
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Click to start.
Continued.
A. J. Page gave up the house in 1928 and was succeeded by William
Hogben, he in 1930 by Thomas J. N. Augustus Griffin, he in 1937 by Percy
J. Hickson, he in 1939 by J. Shaldrake, he in 1945 by Frank Dill, he in
1947 by M. Carr, and he in 1948 by C. Molford. In 1951 Gardner & Co
merged with Tomson and Wotton of Ramsgate. G. Hearn took over and served
until 1953 when he handed over to S, Perkins. In 1955 whilst in his
hands the holding company of Combined breweries was formed. In 1957
Harry Crawshaw took over the house and until 1958 when he handed over to
John Henrry. In 1968 when in his hands Combined Breweries was taken over
by Whitbred & Co. of London. John Henry served here until 1978: John
Hendry served here until 1978 when he handed over to B. Wiseman, and he
in 1985 to Peter Dillnott. In that year the lease of the Fitzwalter Arms
was assigned to the Shepherd Neame Brewery of Faversham, they in turn
leased to Anthony Taylor who was here until 1987 when he handed over to
Francis Joseph Rowe, who at the time of writing this was the keeper of
the Fitzwalter Arms.
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Dover Express 4th July 1947.
Plans Approved.
Plans were approved for the alteration of the sanitary arrangements at
the “Fitzwalter Arms”, Goodnestone and for the removal of a wall in the
lounge of the “Five Bells”, Eastry.
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From the East Kent Mercury, 4 October, 1990.
AWARD FOR PUB
Roger Penn, of the "Fitzwalter Arms," Goodnestone, on the right,
receives his award from Shepherd Neame chairman Robert Neame.
A COUNTRY pub has won top honours in a brewery competition, beating
opposition from pubs throughout the southeast. Roger Penn, of the
"Fitzwalter Arms," Goodnestone, took first prize in a cellar management
contest organised by Shepherd Neame to promote the serving of the
perfect pint in all of their 290 pubs. With his wife Sharon, Roger has
won a holiday in Switzerland, to include a visit to a brewery in Zurich.
Pub cellars were inspected three times by the judges, with marks awarded
for effort and enthusiasm, cleanliness, temperature and the condition of
their beers.
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From the Dover Express, 21 May, 2009
Great pub grub
GOODNESTONE pub The "Fitzwalter Arms" has been awarded pub restaurant
of the year in the Shepherd Neame Pub Awards 2009.
Judge Elizabeth Carter, a restaurant critic from Square Meal
Magazine, said she was impressed by the variety of its dishes using
local ingredients and its customer service.
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Heard on 6 December, 2011 that the pub is for sale with a leasehold of £15,500.
Another Shepherd Neame pub that is superfluous to requirements, they do seem to
be trying to sell off quite a few at present. Hope someone takes it on and
succeeds.
The "FitzWalter Arms" is a quintessential English pub dating back to 1702, the
centre of village life in Goodnestone, an unspoilt, picturesque village set in
the beautiful Kentish countryside between Canterbury, Sandwich and Deal. To this
day it remains the village hostelry to the FitzWalter estate. It is recommended
by top food guides including the Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide. The
kitchen prides itself on sourcing the finest local produce available. There is a
heated and covered smoking terraced area and a large beer garden with an area
set aside as a vegetable patch that provides the restaurant with vegetables for
a large part of the year. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced caterer
and Licensee to maintain the excellent reputation of this fantastic pub. Viewing
is highly recommended.
Above three photographs kindly sent by Ben Pechobi, landlord 7 May 2012.
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From the Dover Mercury, 2 August, 2012. 80p ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
CHARMING PUB WITH HEARTY FOOD
THE charming 16th century "Fitzwalter Arms" with its lattice windows
and mellow brickwork is a picturesque pub. Its cosy interior has
original log fireplaces and there is a games room for darts and bar
billiards.
Landlord Benedikt Pechobi and his fiancee Sabina are proud to run the historic
Shepherd Neame hostelry in Goodnestone, which has been a pub since 1702.
Benedikt, who has a Czech father and English mother wanted to
introduce hearty traditional Eastern European food to the menu.
He said: “When I visited the Lake District I came across a pub
offering Hungarian food. They were serving a bowl of goulash with crusty
bread and it was so popular that the pub was packed out. It has inspired
me to do the same at the "Fitzwalter Arms."”
Benedickt, who uses local ingredients, including free range meat from
Laurie Wakeham in Bridge and organic vegetables from Wingham Country
Market, always makes food freshly to order. His signature dishes include
meat dumplings with wild mushroom sauce, Czech goulash and the hearty,
warming cowboy stew with white beans, diced Polish sausage, onion and
tomato, served with mashed potato. With prices for main courses starting
at £6.95, Benedikt is keen to ensure his customers enjoy wholesome food
at good value.
Fans of English food will not be disappointed as the pub continues to
offer traditional Sunday roasts of pork, lamb or beef, from £8.50, plus
its home-cooked ham, Goodnestone eggs and chunky chips.
Vegetarians are catered for with dishes such as nut roasts or
mushroom bake. For those wanting a lighter snack there is a varied
sandwich menu.
Benedikt prides himself on providing a welcoming atmosphere at the "Fitzwalter
Arms," which has a patio and lovely gardens where a relaxing pint can be
enjoyed outside on a summer's day.
He said: “We are a very friendly pub and welcome families and walkers
with their dogs.”
With its beautiful building, delicious food and fantastic welcome,
the "Fitzwalter Arms" is the perfect place to while away a summer's day.
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October 2012 saw the pub change from open to For Sale.
Latest information received, December 2012, the pub has been sold and is now
under the reign of Amy Kerr, Luke Howell and Danny, the pub puppy.
I have been informed that Amy Kerr's parents own a small vineyard in Kent and
their Bardingley Rose 2011 is currently on sale at the pub.
In 2016, the pub opened its doors for the first time in over 400 years to
overnight guests. Its three unique guest letting bedrooms on the first floor of
the property are well maintained and all boast ensuite bathrooms, tea & coffee
making facilities and freeview televisions.
LICENSEE LIST
PAGE Alfred Joseph Dec/1923
Name changed from "Bridges Arms"
HOGBEN George William P Dec/1923-Oct/33
GRIFFIN Thomas John N Augustus Oct/1933-37
HICKSON Mr Percy J up to 1937-Jan/39
SHELDRAKE Mr J H V Jan/1939-Mar/44
DEAL Frank S Mar/1944-47
CARR M 1947-48
MOLFORD C 1948-51
HEARN G 1951-53
PERKINS S 1953-57
CRAWSHAW Harry 1957-58
HENDRY John 1958-78
Owned by Lord Fitxwalter
WISEMAN B 1978-85
DILLNOTT Peter 1985
TAYLOR Anthony 1985-87
ROWE Francis Joseph 1987+
PENN Roger 1990+
THOMPSON John & RICHARDSON Annabelle 1999-2006 (married at pub)
HART David & GUTTERIDGE Claire 2006+
PECHOBI Mr Benedikt Sept/2011+
KERR Amy & HOWELL Luke Dec/2012+
TODD Jeanette Mrs Mar/2015-17
CAUTERUCCIO Ant & Vicky to July 2017
FISHER Lynn July/2020+
BROWN Nick Turner 2022+
From the
Kelly's Directory 1934
Library archives 1974
From the Dover Express
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