From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 January, 1930.

REASON FOR INCREASED DRUNKENNESS

At the Dover Police Court on Monday, before Messrs. W. B. Brett and S. J. Livings

Thomas Donnelly, of 51, Hyde Place, Aylesham, was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Church Street, on Saturday.

Defendant pleaded guilty.

Police Sergt Roberts said that on Saturday, at 10.30 p.m., when in Church Street, he saw the defendant, who was drunk and incapable, and he obtained an ambulance and brought him to the Police Station, where, owing to his injuries, he was examined by the Police Surgeon, who certified the man as fit to be detained.

The Police Surgeon certified that the defendant was very drunk and had a recent fracture of the ankle, but was fit to be detained.

Defendant said that he was on compensation, and came to Dover to get crutches.

The Chairman said that the defendant would be fined 15s., including the doctor's fee, and the 10s. on him would be kept towards it.

Defendant: I shall have no money to go home with.

Mr. Livings: That is the trouble. They say that drunkenness has increased in Dover. It is you from the outside village who bring up the list.

Chief Constable Bond said that the defendant had 6s. when he was bailed out. What had he spent it on?

Police Sergeant Roberts said that the man was walking about the streets all night.

Defendant: I had to have some grub and a couple of pints. That is all I had.

The Magistrates' Clerk: That did not cost 5s?

You have to have a smoke now and again.

The magistrates ordered 7s. 6d. to be paid now and the balance within a fortnight.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 February, 1930.

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING

The Annual general Licensing meeting was held at the Town Hall, Dover, on Monday when the Mayor (Alderman H. E. Russell) presided. Others present were Sir William Crundall, and Messrs. W. B. Brett, T. Francis, H. J. Burton, S. Lewis, G. D. Clark, C. E. Beaufoy, S. W. Lee, W. Bradley, W. L. Law, C. J. Sellers, A. Clark, R. J. Barwick, J. W. Bussey, W. J. Palmer, and Dr. C. Wood.

The report of the Chief Constable, dated January 15th, dealt with the conduct of licensed houses, there being four prosecutions during the year and stated that 467 visits had been made by the Police to Licensed premises during the year. 542 special orders of exemption under section 57 of the Licensing Act, 1910, were granted to Licensed Premises including 38 clubs. Of this number 420 were granted on three days, vis:- 24th, 26th and 31st December, 1920, and 28 occasional licenses were granted by the Justices. Previous year 541 and 39 respectively. The licenses of 16 Fully Licensed Houses, one Beer, Wine and Spirit "Off" licence and one Shop had been transferred during the year. Previous year 24 Fully Licensed Houses, one Beer "Off" Licence, one Beer, Wine and Spirit "Off" Licence, and one Shop. The Chief Constable having recorded the closing of the "Golden Anchor," "Marquis of Anglesey," "Barley Mow," and "New Commercial Quay," reported that there are now in the Borough Fully Licensed Houses, 133; "On" and "Off" Beer Houses, 5; "Off" Beer Houses, 9; Shops, 11; Confectioners, 3; total, 161. Drunkenness, 1927, Males, 26; Females, 6; total 32; 1928, Males, 33; Females, 5; Total, 38; 1929, Males, 44; Females, 3; total, 47. Of the total number of persons proceeded against for Drunkenness , 20 were residents, 22 non-residents and five were soldiers. Population, Census 1921, 89,999; Population to each Licensed House, 248.44; Drunkenness per 1,000 Population, 1.17.

The Mayor said that the point that struck him most about the report was that the number of cases of drunkenness in the town was not nearly so large as those of visitors.

The magistrates' Clerk: Yes, 20 residents and 22 non-residents.

All the licences were renewed and issued to the licensees.

Mr. E. E. Chitty applied for a music, singing and dancing licence for the Liberal Club, Park Place, two rooms on the ground floor having made into a hall which would be let for meetings, concerts, etc.

The licence was granted.

Mr. E. E. Chitty, also applied for a similar licence for the Castle Street Assembly Room, 17, Castle Street. This he said was really a room or hut built at the garden at the rear which was used as a school for small children and later by Boy Scouts. Lately it had been renovated and brought up to date. For ordinary dances it would not be much use because of the floor, but it was desirable to have such a licence in case there was anyone who desired to sing or dance at concerts etc.

The Chief Constable said he thought it was quite suitable for the work for which it was licensed.

The Magistrates' Clerk asked what would happen in case of fire.

Mr. Chitty said that people could step over the garden wall. He would not prosecute anyone who came over his place. (Laughter.)

The licence was granted.

 Plans were approved for converting stables at the "Balmoral Hotel," Broadstairs, into a lounge.

Mr. Carter on behalf of Palmers Institute (The Garden Hall), Cherry Tree Avenue, applied for a removal of the restriction on the Dancing Licence so as to be the same as that of the Dover Institute. The present hours were 2 to 11, and it necessitated an application for an extension to the Magistrates for hours beyond.

 The Magistrates' Clerk said the same thing applied to the Town Hall as to the Dover Institute. they could dance to any time they liked.

The application was refused, but the Magistrates decided to reconsider the licence of the Dover Institute at the adjourned meeting on March 3rd.

Certificates of abatement of compensation levy to one third were regranted tot he refreshment s room on the Admiralty Pier. Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Marine and harbour Station and Mr Capelli, Bench Street, and the Granville Restaurant at one half.

Mr. Carder applied on behalf of Mr. Brown, the licensee of the "Crypt Restaurant," for a similar certificate fixing the rate at one third.

The Magistrates' Clerk asked if the Chief Constable considered it a Restaurant.

The Chief Constable said it was a Restaurant, the "Shakespeare Bars" being separate.

Mr. Brown in reply to the Magistrates' Clerk said that he could sit down over two hundred in the various rooms.

Mr. Beaufoy asked what compensation levy was paid on the public bar.

The Magistrates' Clerk said it was paid on the whole premises.

Mr. Beaufoy said he could understand the reduction for the Restaurant, but not on account of the public bar. He would be getting out of something another man would have to pay.

It was decided to grant a certificate of abutment to one half.

Mr. Carder who also applied for a certificate allowing drinks to be supplied with meals half an hour after closing time.

The Magistrates' Clerk said that similar certificated were held by the "Lord Warden Hotel," the restaurant on the Pier, 5, Bench Street, 117, Snargate Street, Igglesden and Graves, the "Burlington Hotel," the "Grand Hotel," and the "King's Head Hotel."

The applications were granted.

Dover Express, 12 December 1930.

CHRISTMAS EXTENSION FOR PUBLIC HOUSES.

At a sitting of the Dover Licensing Transfer Sessions, on Friday last, before the Mayor (Councillor F. R. Powell), Alderman Sellens, Alderman Beaufoy, Messrs. W. J. Barnes, W. B. Brett, W. L. Law, W. Bradley, S. Lewis and Dr. C. Wood.

Mr. Rutley Mowll, on behalf of Mr. Chapman, licensee of the "Royal Standard," again asked for an extension of the hours at Christmas time which had been granted in the past three years. He said the object of the application was to enable facilities to be given to those who were in Dover after 10 o’clock until 11 p.m. on the special occasion of the Christmas holidays. The form of the application was to ask for the hours to be extended on the four days, i.e., the 24th to the 26th inclusive, and New Year’s Eve. That was a slight variation this year, as they asked for four days instead of three, and he was instructed to say that if the Bench saw their way to grant the application in respect of the three days regarding the Christmas Holidays, those whom he represented were prepared to waive the application in respect of New Year's Eve. Christmas Day this year was on a Thursday and the holidays would conclude on the Saturday, and it was suggested that it would be really better to make the extension at Christmas. If the applications were granted it was only fair to say that similar application would be made by about 70 others. He thought he was right in saying that the privilege had never been abused.

The Magistrates recorded their votes on a piece of paper, which was handed to the Mayor, who said: "The application is granted."