Folkestone Herald 24 June 1983.

Local News.

A country-style pub could be built at Folkestone's new Broadmead Village estate. A planning application for the pub, an upmarket development costing an estimated £150,000, has been submitted to Shepway District Council by Shepherd Neame Ltd. If it is approved the company will start detailed negotiations about the building, which they hope to site opposite the village green.

A spokesman for the Faversham-based brewery said “We want to build a good quality and attractive country-style pub using weatherboarding and brick. It would obviously be modern but it would be a tasteful sort of place catering for the residential community”. He added that it was envisaged that the new pub would put a fairly strong emphasis on the sale of food as well as beers, wines and spirits. There would also be an off-licence and accommodation for the licensees attached.

Folkestone Herald 15 November 1985.

Local News.

A new luxury country-style pub is due to open on Folkestone’s Broadmead Village Estate before Christmas. The £250,000 weatherboard and brick building is one of only two pubs opened by the Faversham-based brewery Shepherd Neame in the past five years. It will be called The Master Brewer and according to Shepherd Neame will be “a tasteful sort of place catering for the residential community”.

Folkestone Herald 6 December 1985.

Adverising Feature.

If you want to know what makes a traditional pub, ask Shepherd Neame. Creating good pubs they say, is second nature for an independent family-owned Kent brewery which has been producing excellent ale for almost 300 years. And the company says that their outstanding success owes a great deal to their faith in the true values of the British pub.

You can find out for yourself by going along to the Master Brewer in Broadmead Village, Folkestoney which is Shepherd Neame's latest pub and opens for the first time on Monday. The Master Brewer, says the brewery, embodies all the facets of a welcoming local pub - a friendly greeting, an open fire and the finest in food and refreshment. Built at a cost of more than £200,000, it is also the company's first new pub to be built from scratch for several years. Aptly decorated with old brewing implements, charts, hooks and pictures, The Master Brewer offers a single, split-level bar with exposed brickwork, comfortable seating and a roaring log fire. One special feature is a children’s room which is designed to help the entire family enjoy their time at the pub together. This is a move that Shepherd Neame say is close to their ideals and fundamental beliefs. They say that The Master Brewer has been created to prefer both the local residents and business community a real pub that they will be proud to call their local.

The managers will be Peter and Heather Laidlaw who say that they aim to provide super pub food.

Pub food can often mean little more than a packet of crisps or a cheese and onion roll. The new Shepherd Neame house, The Master Brewer, which is due to open at Folkestone's Broadmead Village on Monday, is definitely not going to fall into that category.

For instance, how would you like to savour giant prawns in garlic or succulent Beef Wellington, exotic Paella or tasty homemade pies? That is the type of tempting fare that managers Peter and Heather Laidlaw are planning to lay on for both evenings and lunchtimes at the new pub.

Peter, 31, and 25-year-old Heather have already garnered an Egon Ronay award and will be emulating these standards at The Master Brewer. The couple originally hail from the Lake District, but have spent most of their time in the licensed trade running pubs in the South. Trained in London, Peter and Heather made their mark at The Oak in Surbiton, which was renowned locally for its food, before moving in as managers at The Eight Bells at Wingham Well, near Canterbury. Now the couple say they are relishing the challenge of building up their own trade and creating a family atmosphere at The Master Brewer. And they even plan to introduce measures that should keep the kids happy with a special menu for youngsters which will be served in the Children's Room that will be included as an integral part of the new pub. Putting a festive shine on their own love of children, Peter and Heather will be putting up a Christmas tree in the pub entrance. Decorated with Teddy Bears, it will be raffled raise funds for the local playgroup and the Children In Need appeal.

Certainly the pub should be an attractive venue for the Broadmead Village mums - for Heather is about to join their ranks. She is expecting her first baby in the New Year.

Folkestone Herald 2 January 1987.

Local News.

Healthy drinkers toast success. Four customers from the Master Brewer, at Broadmead village, proved that drinking can’t be all that bad for your health when they entered and won the Shepherd Neame half marathon, at Faversham. The four-man team won the pub team prize, collecting celebratory tankards as a reward.

Folkestone Herald 2 October 1992.

Local News.

Protesting villagers look like winning the battle against noise from a nearby pub. There were so many objections to the application for an indoor public entertainments licence (PEL) by the Master Brewer pub, in Broadmead Village, Folkestone, that the recommendation due to be put before councillors yesterday (Thursday) was to refuse it. More than 53 people living in the village wrote to the district council complaining there was already too much noise from the pub and late night traffic. And they were concerned if the pub landlord was granted a PEL he would later try and get a further licence for late night events as well.

Protestor Paul Miller, of Lucy Avenue, said “This is a residential area, and I'm worried this would be the thin end of the wedge”.

Neighbour Graham Staughton said “During the summer months they leave the windows open and I have to shut mine to keep the noise out. Why should I? Also we have car doors slamming and turning up until 11.30 at night and sometimes later, and because parking isn't ideal it's a hazard if the emergency services have to get in”.

And Eddie Thomas said “My wife and I moved here before the pub was built and we were told it was to be a small local pub to serve the community, but it isn't. We don't want to extend the liberties of the Master Brewer any further in that what they have done already without a licence is irritating enough”.

But landlady Jean Reed denied windows had ever been left open or bands played outside and claimed she and her husband, Malcolm, had collected more than 150 signatures in support of the application. She said “Whether we get the licence or not won't make much difference anyway, because we'd still be allowed to hold the sort of events we already do”.

Folkestone Herald 9 October 1992.

Local News.

Protestors won the day when a pub manager's application for a public entertainments licence was turned down. Fifty three people living near the Master Brewer pub in Broadmead Village, Folkestone, wrote to Shepway Council objecting to the application because of noise, parking problems and litter created by customers.

After hearing their complaints, members of the entertainments and licensing sub-committee unanimously agreed to refuse the licence.

Pub manager Malcolm Reed agreed there was a problem with traffic and parking, but denied music was played outside.

Sub-committee chairman, David Dickinson, said the building's design made it almost impossible to contain the noise.

After the meeting Mr. Reed said “The music will continue as usual, but a sign will go up telling people they can't dance”.

Folkestone Herald 11 September 1997.

Local News.

Green-fingered drinkers should head to the Shepherd Neame Master Brewer pub in Broadmead Village, where new owners hope their local will also become a centre for a gardening club they plan to start. As newcomers to the pub trade, Cheryl and Mick Hall, who used to live in Redoubt Way, Dymchurch, bring with them little experience of running a bar, but a wealth of gardening knowledge. The couple plan to swap plant cuttings and discuss horticultural techniques and believe that many others in the area will be interested. Mrs. Hall, 42, a former housewife, said “I'm looking forward to meeting people who enjoy gardening, and I can't think of a better place to do so than in the comfort of the Master Brewer's bar”. She added “We plan to get the club up and running by Spring. Basically the idea is to establish a common interest in the community so that we have something to talk about. We have had several people come in already and express an interest”.