From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 31 August, 1894. 1d.

DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS

The annual Brewster Sessions of the Borough of Dover was held in the Court House. Town hall, on Monday at mid-day. The following magistrates were present:- Dr. Astley (in the chair), W. J. Adcock, M. Pepper, F. W. Prescott, G. Fry, C. W. Bagshaw, J. L. Bradley, A. Bottle, T. A. Terson, and G. R. Killick, Esqrs.

THE OLD LICENSES RENEWED

Dr. Astley, on the Magistrates taking their seats, announced that they had had under consideration the report of the Superintendent of Police, and it appeared that the licensed houses throughout the Borough had been most carefully and well conducted, though there were three or four exceptions which would be noticed.
The names of the public houses were then called, and the licensees were, except in the following cases renewed without remark.

THE DOLPHIN INN

The Chairman addressed the landlord, G. Blanche, said that they found that on the 11th of May, 1894, he had been fined 21s. and costs for keeping open his premises for the sale of intoxicating liquors at 11.40 p.m. He had been instructed to caution him that if any error occur again, in all probability they would take away his license. They would grant it on this occasion, but hoped that he would be extremely cautions as to the manner I which he conducted his house in the future.

Mr. Lance said that he should like to say that it was simply a private party, and no money passed, he was not aware of the law at the time, but he would see that it did not occur again.

THE RED LION

It was stated that Mr. E. W. Knocker had an application for a provisional license in reference to this house, but the old license was renewed, the new application to come on later.

THE BRITISH QUEEN

The chairman addressing Mr. Appleton, landlord of the “British Queen,” said that they found that on the 11th of June he had been fined £5 and 9s. 6d. costs for keeping open his premises at 12.55 p.m. It must have been a serious case for the Magistrates to impose such a heavy fine, but the license had not been endoesed, so that they would grant it this time, but he must be careful that there was not a mistake again.

THE GUILDHALL

The Chairman also cautioned Mr. Poffely, landlord of the above, who on the 16th of April was fined 20s. and 9s. 6d. costs for keeping the premises open at 11.45 p.m.

THE LORD WOLSELEY

Mr. G. Saunders, landlord of the “Lord Wolseley,” who had been fined 40s. for keeping his premises open at 11.40 p.m., was also cautioned.

COURT AND CO

The license in the name of Mr. P. S. Court was transferred to Mr. Jas. R. Mann, registered Secretary of the Company.

THE LIBERTIES

It was announced that no application would be considered from the Liberties, except from Ringwould, but would be adjourned to the Broadstairs adjourned Sessions on September the 2nd.

THE ROYAL STANDARD

Mr. M. Mowll applied for the license of the “Royal Standard” to be transferred from Hanson to Robert Watson.

Robert Watson said he resided at the “Royal Standard,” and had entered into an agreement with Messrs. Beer and Co. to hire the same.

Mr. G. Fry said that he passed by the place very frequently, and the house for several years had been conducted in a most disgraceful way. He did not like to say anything that would reflect on the Superintendent, but the scenes that had occurred outside the house tended to show it had not been looked after properly, and if it were conducted in the same way by the new tenant, he should feel it his duty next year to call attention to it.

Mr. M. Mowll said he was exceedingly sorry that the house had been so badly conducted, but there had been no charge before the Court, and he pointed out that it was a tramps' house, and therefore very difficult to manage.

A letter was read from the Chatham police, stating that the applicant had kept a common lodging house at Chatham, and his character was in every way satisfactory.

The application was granted.

THE RED LION

This was an application for a provisional license. Mr. E. W. Knocker, who appeared for the applicant, Mrs. Dane, landlady of the “Red Lion,” said that it was nominally in her name, but actually made by Messrs. Leney and Co., who were about to pull the house down and re-build the premises, and also to include some adjoining cottage property. As the house was used as a common lodging house, the re-building and additions were very necessary.

The formal notices, &c., having been proved, the consideration of the application was adjourned until later in the day, when it was granted.

THE GRANVILLE HALL

Mr. M. Mowll made an application for permission to sell beer at the Granville Hall on behalf of Mr. G. H. Mowll, a wine license being already in existence.

Mr. Hill, of Ramsgate, opposed this application on behalf of Mr. W. D. Adams. Mr. Hart, of Folkestone appeared to oppose on behalf of the Dover Licensed Victuallers. Mr. m. Bradley on behalf of the Dover Temperance Council, and Dr. Hardman, of Deal, on behalf of the owners of the “Shakespeare Hotel.”

Dr. Hardman raised a formal objection that the notices were not posted on the old parish church of St. James', but this was overruled.

Mr. G. H. Mowll said there was already a wine license attached to the premises. There was no beer engine in the premises, and it was not his intention to have one, and it was not his intention to sell draught beer, except bottle beer, on the premises. Witness was keeping the premises purely and simply as a restaurant.

By Mr. Hill: Witness has been occupier of the premises three weeks or a month. The premises opened out into public gardens, and people had a right to go into them if they wished.

Mr. Stilwell said that his impression was that there was no access into the public gardens under the lease of the premises to Mr. Mowll.

Mr. M. Mowll argued that it would be of benefit to the public, and that, with the exception of the Dover Temperance Council, whose position was quite intelligible, the remainder of the opposition was trade opposition, the worth of which the Bench would fully appreciate.

Mr. Hills, who spoke very strongly against the application, argued that there was not at present a single public house on the Sea Front, and as this application, not withstanding whatever promise was made now, amounted to that; for that reason they should refuse it. He pictured the objections that would arise if trippers and beanfeasters after dining there were to come out on the Sea Front or go into the Granville Gardens.

Mr. hart, of Folkestone, also spoke strongly on the question.

Mr. M. Bradley asked the Bench to recollect their declaration of three years ago, when they said that there were too many licenses in Dover and asked that steps should be taken to reduce the number. He pointed out that since then the “Grand Hotel” license had been granted, and although it had been promised that there should be no bar, there was one, and no one could say that the promise in respect to this application would also not be broken.

Dr. Hardman also spoke against the application.

AN OFF LICENSE

Mr. Charles Lewis Adams applied for a license to sell bottled beers to be consumed off the premises for his branch established at Park Place. Mr. E. Carden supported the application, Mr. Hart, of Folkestone, appeared on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers, and Mr. Montague Bradley on behalf of the Temperance Council. The notices having been proved.

Mr. C. L. Adams entered the witness box and stated that he was the holder of a beer dealer's license in the same premises and he now applied for a license to sell bottled ale by retail, because a good many of his customers told him that it was too far to go to his establishment in Snargate Street. The district was a growing one and there was no regular wine merchant above the Market Square. His ground landlords the Commissioners of Woods and Forest had granted him permission to hold such a license as he was applying for. That permission, however, strictly prohibited him from selling beer on draught.

In reply to Mr. Bradley, the witness said that he was aware that there were the “Wheat Sheaf,” the “Park Inn,” and the “Sir John Falstaff” near, but he could not say whether bottled beer could be bought there as he proposed to sell it.

Mr. Hart, in addressing the Bench in opposition, on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers, contended that the application was really for an ordinary license for the sale of beef off the premises. And there would be nothing to prevent him supplying it in jugs except the permit from the Woods and Forests, and that might be as easily varied as obtained.

Mr. Bradley, on behalf of the Temperance Council, strongly contended that there was no need for further facilities for obtaining alcoholic liquors in the district.

ORANGE TREE

Mr. W. Curling applied for a license for selling beer to be consumed on the premises at the “Orange Tree,” Maxton. Mr. Hills, of Margate supported the application, and Mr. Bradley appeared on behalf of the Temperance Council.

Mr. Hills, in addressing the Bench, said that all the people in Maxton were in favour of this license being granted, and 90 had signed a memorial in favour of it.

Mr. Curling said he believed the license which he applied for was a necessity. 90 out of 113 householders signed in its favour. He obtained the signatures mostly himself. The nearest licensed house was half a mile away.

Cross-examined by Mr. Bradley: The “Hare and Hounds” was not half a mile away, but that was out of the Borough; that was about a quarter of a mile further on the Folkestone Road. His object in seeking the license was to offer the people of Maxton the means on enjoying themselves by spending an hour or two together in his house of an evening.

Mr. Major, a resident at Maxton, spoke strongly in favour of the license, and if the Bench did not grant it, they were not Englishmen.
Mr. Hill said he had been fee'd to address the bench, and asked the witness to detest from doing so.

Cross-examination by Mr. Bradley: Witness said that when a man went for his supper beer he wanted to wet his whistle, and if he drank out of the jug in going home, his wife would call it bad measure. He had been to the “Hare and Hounds.” It would take him twenty minutes to go there. He might go quicker if very thirsty. There had been a great increase of the population of Maxton. He should judge that they had increased three-fold from looking at the number of children about.

Mr. Bradley having addressed the Bench against the granting of the license, the Magistrates retired, and were absent a quarter of an hour.

When they returned, Dr. Astley said: the first license in the list is that for the enlargement of the “Red Lion.” That the Magistrates grant. The next application is that of Mr. G. H. Mowll to sell beer to be consumed on the premises at the “Granville Restaurant.” The Magistrates have decided to refuse it. The next is Mr. Charles Lewis Adam's application for a license to sell beer to be consumed off the premises at 5, Park Place. That the Magistrates grant. The next is Mr. W. Curling's application. A similar application had been before the Magistrates several times, and they still hold the same view and refuse it.

THE GRAND HOTEL

On the name of the “Grand Hotel” being called Alderman Adcock said that he reserved to himself the right of addressing the Bench on the subject of that license when it came up for consideration.

Mr. G. F. Fry said he hoped that the plans of the Hotel submitted to the Bench when the license was obtained would be produced, as he was under the impression that the bar had not been constructed in accordance with the plans.

The Chairman: No doubt the plans will be forthcoming.

Mr. Keeler the Secretary of the Hotel Company said that he should be happy to produce the plans, and they should show that Mr. Fry was entirely under a misapprehension.

Later Mr. M. Bradley expressed his opinion that the bar was not in accordance with the statement made on the application for the license.

After the new applications had been dealt with, Mr. F. Hills said that owing to the remarks that had been made on the Bench, he had been instructed to formally apply for the renewal of the “Grand Hotel” license, no notice of opposition having been given.

Mr. Adcock said he wished to make a few observations on the matter of the “Grand Hotel” license.

Mr. Hills asked if Mr. Adcock was addressing the bench as a Magistrate.

Mr. Adcock said he wished to address the Bench as a Magistrate. He said it was his good fortune three years ago to occupy the honourable position of mayor of Dover, and he occupied the position which Dr. Astley then so worthily filled. It would be in his recollection of all the Magistrates present that when the application for the “Grand Hotel” license was made, a witness on behalf of the Hotel went into the box and said that they did not intend to have a public bar to be used as a drinking bar, and that there would be no bar beyond a restaurant counter in the basement. The plans showing the proposed bar in the basement were put in as evidence and signed by him (Mr. Adcock) as Chairman. There was no mention of any bar except in the basement restaurant which was to measure 22 feet by 20 feet. The Magistrates granted the license on the assumption that there would be no public house bar. The arrangement had not been carried out according to those plans and the position of the bar was altogether different. What would have been the fate of the application had it been shown that the bar would be up a passage? He ventured to say the license never would have been granted. His complaint was that the plans which were submitted to the magistrates three years ago, when the application was made, had never been attempted to be carried out – in face they were ignored, and the bar instead of being in the basement was put up a passage. He fully recognised the good which the “Grand Hotel” had been to Dover, and he had no desire to hamper in any way the business of the “Grand Hotel,” therefore he did not mean to take any action on this occasion, but he wished to say if the bar were continued up the passage, steps would be taken next year and notice given that the renewal of the license would be opposed. He considered a bar up a passage would be one of the worst kind of bars. Many people who would be ashamed to go from the public street into a public house to drink, or down the steps in front of the hotel, but would go up that passage, and therefore it would be an encouragement to sly drinking. He had suggested that the renewal of the “Grand Hotel” license should be adjourned to Broadstairs in order that the facts might be ascertained, but he bowed to the opinion of his brother Magistrates in allowing the matter to stand over for another year, on the understanding that there would be an objection to the license if it were not in the meantime some alteration.

Mr. Hill said that no notice had been given of the opposition, but as there would be no opposition this year, he would reserve his remarks on that point.

Mr. J. L. Bradley also speaking from the Bench said that he quite agreed with the remarks of Mr. Alderman Adcock. It was quite understood when this license was granted that there was no bar except in the basement of the Hotel.

Mr. Hill said that if his instructions were correct, the alterations in the plans were submitted and sanctioned when the provisional license was confirmed.

Mr. Adcock: We did not know of any variation.

Mr. Vidler (the Clerk) said that it was stated that the bar issued of being in front would be at the side.

The proceedings then terminated.