From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

WINGHAM LICENSING SESSIONS

NEW SHEPHERDSWELL LICENSE

At Canterbury, on Thursday, before Mr. T. G. Elphinston (in the chair) Lord Hawarden, Miss Tower, Messrs. A. J. Lilliot, A. J. Ross, C. J. Lines, and G. Plumptree.

The police reports show that there were 122 licensed premises in the division and 15 registered clubs; there had been no cases of drunkenness for the past six years.

The chairman of the licensees provided an amenity and meant a great deal in the countryside and the justices would like them to know how much they appreciate the way they did their job. The bench also expressed their appreciation to the police.

On behalf of the members of the Wingham and District L.V.A. Mr. J. W. Girling asked the justices to consider the adjourned meeting an alteration of the permitted hours all the year round. The purpose was to remove the anomalies that existed in the district.

Replying to the bench Mr. Girling said the boundaries of the boroughs now come out into the countryside and it was where the boundaries met that the trouble arose. Under the 1921 Act, the justices could grant 8½ hours for drinking each day. He agreed that the effect would be to make the present Summer Time extensions operative all year round.

The bench agreed to issue the public notices.

Mr. Philip Bracher applied for a full license for the "Eight Bells," Wingham Well, on behalf of the licensee, William A. V, Rilestone, who has been at the house since 1939, and produced a petition signed by 66 people.- Approved, subject to an additional monopoly value of £575.

Mr. Bracher made a similar application for the "Hope Inn," Lydden, the licensee, Harry Hubbard stating that there was a persistent demand for spirits, especially for people coming off the cross-Channel boats. He produced a petition signed by 70 people and the acknowledgement of the formal notice by the Chairman of the Parish Council, who had written that he thought that there should be a full license for the house as some people wanted to get spirits as medicine.- Approved, subject to an additional monopoly value of £430.

A similar application was granted in respect of the "Carpenter's Arms," Alkham, the licensee of which, Daniel Sutton, produced a petition signed by 67 people. The additional monopoly value was fixed at £400, and the Bench expressed the opinion, without making it a condition, that the public bar should be enlarged.

A petition with 225 signatures was produced by Fred Green in support of a similar application for the "White Horse," Finglesham. The Clerk to the Parish Council had written wishing the landlord every success.- Approved, subject to an additional monopoly value of £650.

On the application of Mr. J. W. Girling, a similar licence was granted to Thomas L. Gibbins, of the "Volunteer," Ash, who produced a petition signed by 120 persons. Additional monopoly value was £775.

Arthur H. Atkins, of the "Two Sawyers," Womanswould, represented by Mr. P. A. G. Aldington, was granted a wine license for the existing beerhouse.

Mr. Gordon Friend, on behalf of Norman J. N. Whalley, appealed for a full license, for the "Hazling Dane Country House Hotel," Shepherdswell, subject to no open bar service, only to residents or to visitors with meals and no off sales.

Mr. Whalley, he said had owned the premises since 1946 and had been serving a great need in the area. The hotel was five miles from Dover and two miles off the main road, along which passed an enormous volume of traffic to and from the Continent. A very large number of those travellers wished to stay overnight in Dover and a great burden was placed on the existing hotel accommodations in the town. Every day Dover hoteliers sent out people to "Hazling Dane" for accommodation, and they had recently contracted to accommodate parties going on coach tours on the Continent.

Mr. Friend contended that there was a particular need for a license at that house and it was need that could not be met by sending out for drinks to licensed premises in the district, the nearest of which was half-a-mile away.

Application said that 99 per cent. of his trade was with overnight visitors, travelling to and from the Continent. He had 1300 people stay with him last year, some of them being visitors for Dover and Canterbury Cricket Weeks.

There was no opposition and the justices granted the license subject to the conditions stated, the monopoly value for the term of 3½ years being fixed at £60. The Chairman said they had appreciated the application in that form, which they considered better than having a club in an Hotel.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

BREWSTER SESSIONS

LICENSEES' APPLICATION FAILS

For the second year in succession an application for all public houses in the area to remain open until 10.30 p.m. every evening all the year round instead of only during the summer months, as at present, was rejected at the annual Licensing Meeting for the Borough and Liberties of Dover, held at the Town Hall on Monday. After hearing the applications by Mr. P. A. G. Aldington on behalf of local licensees and by Mr. A. R. Young on behalf of those in Broadstairs, the Chairman (Mr. W. Hollis) said that it was not often that a unanimous vote was recorded, but such a decision had been reached by the twelve magistrates on the Bench to keep the hours of opening as they were and to allow the half-hour extension until 10.30 p.m. only in the summer.

In addition to Mr. Hollis, other members of the Bench were:- Mrs. Binge, Miss Elnor and Messrs. J. R. Cairns, G. D. Clark, C. W. Chitty, F. P. Wright, F. A. Holmes, W. G. Jeffery, G. W. Blackman, D. Bradley, and R. R. O. Barwick.

Mr. Aldington had told them that experience since he had made a similar application last year had shown that from 6 to 6.30 in the evening, there was no business at all, and licensees had to kick their heels for half-an-hour wasting electric light. There was also the argument that the extra half-hour was very inconvenient from the point of view of the man coming out of the cinema at 10 p.m. and wanting to take his wife out for a drink before going home. It was, he considered, quite a reasonable application.

Mr. Young suggested that the granting of the application would be an important facility to the majority of people consuming liquor in the area. One of the main reason for making the application was that from Margate right along the coast the hours were 10.30, and visitors who went to Broadstairs were apt to find that they'd missed the last drink of the evening - so important to so many people. The "old hands" in Broadstairs, however, put on their hats and coats at ten minutes to ten and hared along to Margate to drink in comfort until 10.30.

Objecting to the application Mr. A. B. Impett, of Broadstairs, on behalf of the local branch of the International Order of Good Templars, though a perfect solution for those who wished to get in line with other towns was to make a general order limiting the licensing hours to 10 p.m.

The Rev. W. Barker, representing the Free Churches of Broadstairs and St. Peter's and the British Woman's Total Abstinence Union, agreed with Mr. Impett that the application was not at all in the best interests of Broadstairs.

The annual report of Supt. Sadleton showed that 148 licensed premises in the Dover area, including Ringwould and Kingsdown, compared with a total of 149 in 1948. Twenty-five licensed premises were still closed as a result of enemy action, but he was pleased to state that the managers and licensees of existing premises had conducted their houses in a satisfactory manner. During 538 visits to premises at irregular periods during the year particular attention was given to the presence of young people, and from observation kept it did appear that licensees were carrying out the provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor (Sale to Persons Under Eighteen) Act. Two males were charged with drunkenness, but both of them were visitors to the district. There appeared to be  good supply of beers and wines during the whole of the year, but there was a limited supply of some kinds of spirits. The only new club registered during the year was the Snargate Masonic Refreshment Club.

 The Police report for Acol showed that the one licensed house, the "Crown and Sceptre," catering for a population of 206, had been conducted correctly. Four visits to the premises had been made, no clubs had been registered, and no drunkenness reported.

The Broadstairs report showed that the 30 licensed houses served a population of 12,727, an average of 386 persons to each house. The premises were all found to be generally well conducted during the 161 visits made during the year and no drunkenness had been reported.

The existing Justices' licenses and those for music, singing and dancing were renewed en bloc on the application of Mr. W. Mowll and Mr. P. A. G. Aldington, as were applications for the extra "supper hour" for several premises by Mr. Mowll. The application for music, singing and dancing licences in respect of the "Prince Imperial" and the "Sugar Loaf," Biggin Street, were adjourned.

Applications for the full transfer of the licenses of the "Albion," East Cliff, "Rose and Crown," Clarence Place, and the Savoy Cafe, Snargate Street, were granted, as were applications for approval to alterations to the "Brown Jug," Dumpton, and "The Grapes," Maison Dieu Road.

Applications for new licenses in respect of the "Hotel Lancaster," "Sandringham Hotel," and premises at 68, Church Street, all in Broadstairs, were all adjourned to the adjourned hearing at Dover at 11 a.m. on March 6th, when applications for new licenses will be heard. The adjourned hearing in respect of Broadstairs will be held there on Feb. 22nd, at 3 p.m.

A wine ("off") license in respect of 4, Bench Street, and a wine and spirits ("off") license in respect of 74, High Street, were granted to Mr. J. Lukey, the Clerk (Mr. G. H. Youden) explaining that those licenses formally granted by the Customs and Excise, now fell within the scope of the Licensing Authority by reason of the 1949 Licensing Act.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

PUBLIC HOUSE OPENING HOURS

Sitting at Canterbury yesterday, Wingham magistrates refused an all the year round extension of licensing hours to 10.30 p.m.

On behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, Mr. J. W. Girling said that the application followed on remarks passed on to the licensees by the Police. In the area there were four separate Police Divisions, with a certain amount of interplay of the Police officers of town and district. Sandwich closed at 10.30. and Worth at 10, Deal and Great Mongeham at 10.30, and Northbourne, Sholden and Little Mongeham at 10. He would not discuss Dover and Dover was "beyond the pale," as it was in the position of having naval and military establishments, so that, from the magistrates' point of view, it was desirable to close at 10 p.m.

Mr. Girling contended that there were special requirements arising from the difficulties that existed as far as Police supervision was concerned.

The Chairman (Mr. T. G. Elphinstone) said that if the Bench granted the application it would be like a stone in a pool, with the rings growing larger and larger all the time. There would be more boundary cases. It was really for a matter of Parliament.

Mr. Girling pointed out the shifts at the mine ended at 10 p.m., and he contended that the anomalies should be removed so that there could be a solid block of houses closing at the same time.

Evidence in support was given my Mr. A. E. Minter, of the Lion Hotel, Ash, Major D. A. Board, of the Hare and Hounds, Northbourne, and Mr. F. Chell, of the "Dog and Duck," Plucks Gutter, who spoke of the difficulties they met with customers because of different closing times.

Two Police Inspectors said they were instructed to leave the decision to the discretion of the Bench, and the other two said they had no objections.

The Chairman said the Justices were not satisfied that the special requirements of the district rendered it desirable to make the change for all the year round, but the Justices were willing to walk in step with the Elham Division, and would extend the summer extensions to synchronise with the whole period of Summer Time, which would give the licensees a few days at each end of the present extension.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 14 April 1950.

BREWERS DINNER

At the annual dinner of the Hythe Brewery Sports and Social Club, at Stade Court, Hythe, on Friday last, there was a gathering of ninety, including members from the St. Stephen's Maltings, Canterbury, and the branches at Ashford and Dover. Cmdr. N. C. M. Findlay, Chairman of the Club and Joint Managing Director of Mackeson and Co., was supported by Mr. M. F. Jupp, Joint Managing Director of the Company, and the guests included Mr. Pratten (Managing Director of the Wingham Engineering Co.), Mr. J. B. Wilmot, (Second Brewer, Whitbred & Co. Ltd.) and Mr. C. J. Mulling (Head Brewer, F. Leney & Sons, Ltd., Wateringbury), and seven pensioners of the Company.

Mr. N. Hodgson, Head Brewer at Hythe, mentioning the organisation of the House of Whitbred, of which Mackeson was a part, said there were four breweries, five maltings, and in normal times there are 1,000 acres under hop cultivation, which provided an enjoyable holiday for some 800 families during the hop picking season. There was also a large Wine and Spirit Company, and a recent acquisition is a Mineral Water factory, in addition to 30 bottling stores and depots, giving safe employment to well over 4,000 people.

Mr. Hogeson concluded by saying, irrespective of personal political views, he hoped the Company would never come under the yoke of nationalisation, whereby they would lose their individual privileges and traditional background.

Cmdr. Findlay presented awards as follows:- Rawlings Cup (for highest batting average 1949); B. W. White. Glenny Cup (for best bowling average 1949); A. J. Arnett. Angling Cup (for greatest weight of fish caught 1949); R. G. Cole; runner-up, F. Burchett. Billiards cup, H. Coe; runner-up, W. Hymers. Snooker Cup (Pairs); H. Coe and W. Hymers. Darts (Singles), G. Dray; runner-up, R. Mison. Chipperfield Cup (Inter-Departmental Darts Competition); Transport Department Team, (F. Blackman, C. Middleton, E. Toner, and T. Dray). Rawlings Cup (for vegetables); A. E. Maytum. Findlay Cup (for flower and vegetables); A. E. Maytum. Hodgeson Bowl (for flowers); F. C. Bishop.

The evening was concluded by a Floor Show, provided by "Marko" and his Entertainers.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 25 August, 1950.

KENT LICENSEES

DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE CHANCELLOR'S "REPLY"

At the quarterly meeting of the Kent Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Association, at the Connaught Hotel, Herne Bay, on Thursday last week, the Secretary (Mr. W. G. Love, of Ramsgate) reported that, as directed he had written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking for a substantial reduction of duties, and pointing out that many members who had invested their life savings in a licensed house, had now to seek outside employment, owing to a falling trade. A "reply" had been received, merely stating that his letter had been "received."

Many members expressed their disgust at the "reply," and the Secretary was directed to write again, asking for something definite.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 October, 1950.

FOUR LICENCES IN SUSPENSION

Four more local public houses which had either been destroyed by enemy action or are about to be demolished had their licences transferred to the brewers representatives at Dover Magistrates' Court on Friday. The licences will be held in suspense.

The four hotels were the "Prince Imperial," "Hotel de Paris," - both to be demolished to make way for Harbour Board dock improvements - the "Granville Hotel," Townwall Street, - building deatroyed and subject to compulsory acquisition order - and the "Golden Cross," St. James Street - destroyed by enemy action.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 December, 1950.

CHRISTMAS DRINKING HOURS

Christmas extensions until 11.30 p.m. on several days over the holiday period were granted by Dover Magistrates, on Monday, to a number of local licensees.

The extensions were granted for Saturday, which will be regarded as Christmas Eve, Tuesday, (Boxing Day) and Saturday 30th December, when New Year's Eve will be celebrated.

Applicants including 34 members of the Dover and District Licensed Victuallers' Association, as well as a number of licensees, who heard their applications for a similar extension on Monday, 1st January, 1951 refused. All of the original applications had requested extensions until 11.45 p.m. on each evening.

Other licensing applications granted included extensions for varying periods for restaurants, clubs and hotels, to hold dances and other functions.