From the East Kent Mercury, Thursday 6 January, 2011.
PUBS FACING REVIEW OF THEIR LICENCES
TWO pubs in Deal will have their licences reviewed after being
accused of selling alcohol to under 18-year-olds.
The "Granville Arms," in
Cambridge Road, and the "Walmer
Castle" in South Street are both accused of serving people under the
legal age to drink alcohol.
Police have requested the reviews and officers will submit reports
when the "Granville Arms"
case is looked at today (Thursday).
Brendan Carrick, landlord of the "Walmer
Castle" pub, said his licence will be reviewed at a meeting of the
district council's licensing sub-committee.
He is also accused of breech of licensing conditions.
On his Facebook Page he has been inviting customers to write in
support of the pub. He said: "Police have decided to ask for a review of
the licence because they say we are letting people in after midnight.
"There were reports of under age drinking at the bar which were never
proven.
"They seem to think everything that happens in South Street is the
fault of the "Walmer Castle,""
he said.
According to Mr Carrick, police want to reduce the licence to 2am on
Friday and Saturday nights instead of 4am. He must also ensure that door
staff work every Friday and Saturday.
The "Alma" pub in West Street is
also accused of breach of conditions and failure to promote licensing
objectives.
A consultation into the review of the Granville Arms ended on
Christmas Eve and the consultation into the "Walmer
Castle" and the "Alma" finished
on December 27.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 10 February, 2011. 60p
REAL BEER LOVERS PULL IN TO DRINK ALE AND HEARTY
Organisers make Dover War Memorial project their
charity
Report by Rhys Griffiths
HUNDREDS of drinkers enjoyed a selection of the country's finest beers
at Dover's winter ale festival last weekend.
Organised by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), it
was the 18th time the popular event has been staged at the town hall.
The historic venue was packed with beer-lovers on Friday and Saturday,
enjoying around 70 strong ales with unusual names such as Old Stoat
Wobbler and Rest in Peace.
For the second year running the festival organisers decided to make the
Dover War Memorial Project (DWMP) their chosen charity, with proceeds from
the two-day event going to this good cause.
Marilyn Stephenson-Knight, who attended the festival with the charity's
co-founder Simon Chambers, said: "In 2010 it was a fabulous surprise to
receive CAMRA's donation, and it was absolutely crucial too. The DWMP was
down to its last few pounds and struggling to carry on.
"Part of the donation enabled the DWMP to research and plan the
extensive 90th Anniversary of the Unknown Warrior project, which gained
Heritage Lottery Funding. That's well over a hundredfold return,
benefiting hundreds of young people in Dover, across Kent and in London."
From the East Kent Mercury, Thursday 24 March, 2011.
CAN YOU HELP JEFF?
AN AMERICAN collector of beer cans plans to visit Dover next month
to add to his stock.
Jeff Lebo has more than 80(000 cans in his collection, believed to be
the largest in the world.
He has travelled the globe in search of his tin treasures and in
April will be starting a month long trek throughout England. Wales and
Scotland In an attempt to document all of the known cans produced in the
UK.
His website,
www.cansmartbeercans.com has pictures of many rare and unusual beer
cans from around the world and he hopes to find many more examples on
this journey.
He has often paid 200 dollars or more for particular examples and he
plans to go scuba diving for cans in the lochs of Scotland.
Mr Lebo expects to be in Dover between April 22 and 25.
Anyone who has any old or unusual beer cans which might be of
interest to him can contact him to arrange a meeting on e-mail
jefflebo@aol.com.
through his website at
www.cansmartbeercans.com or calling on
001-717-577-8327.
From the Dover Mercury, 14 April, 2011.
LANDMARK BACKDROP TO 3D AD CAMPAGNE
COMMUTERS at a London station were treated to an unusual sight ...
the White Cliffs of Dover being repaired and cleaned by a crack team of
workers.
It was put together by Carlsberg, which created an impressive 3D
projection display at Liverpool Street Station to unveil the brand's
fresh new look and slogan, That Calls for a Carlsberg.
A video has also been launched showing a SWAT team cleaning the
cliffs.
It shows part of the cliffs crumbling and falling into the sea before
the team moves in to repair the damage and give the cliffs a fresh, new
look.
A company spokesman said the new line of That Calls for a Carlsberg
represents their passion for heritage, quality, great taste and doing
the right thing, while connecting with today's active, adventurous
generation of beer drinkers.
"The proposition encourages drinkers to step up and do the right
thing for their friends and be rewarded with a Carlsberg" he said.
Should the video not play in your browser, it can be downloaded by
clicking here.
From the Dover Mercury, 28 April, 2011.
DRAMA ON PUB ROOF
A TEENAGER who went on to the roof of a public house in Dover after
threatening to kill himself was talked down to safety by police
negotiators.
It happened just after 9pm last Tuesday when police officers were
called to London Road following reports of violence and threats of
suicide made by the 17 year old.
The youth, who was said to be local, climbed onto the roof and stayed
there for more than three hours. Police negotiators attended and
eventually persuaded him to come down at 12.35am on Wednesday.
He was arrested on suspicion of domestic grievous bodily harm and
affray.
He was taken to William Harvey Hospital at Ashford but was discharged
after treatment.
(I am not sure which pub this refers to yet. Paul Skelton.)
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 19
May, 2011. 60p
PUB TRADE FACTS
Beer sales fell by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2011, compared with
the same period in 2010, according to the latest UK Quarterly Beer
Barometer published by the British beer & Pub Association (BBPA).
Both the on and off-trade showed a decline of 3.8%, and the decline
of sales in pubs has slowed, following an 8.8% fall in the same period
in 2010 - the fastest first quarter decline since 2005. The impact of
the 7.2% tax rise in the Budget has yet to surface in the BBPA's
statistics.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: "Sales in the sector are
still fragile."
From the Dover Mercury, 26 May, 2011. 70p
SHOP WORKER SOLD ALCOHOL TO DRUNK WOMAN
A SHOP worker in Dover has been given an £80 fixed penalty notice
for serving alcohol to someone who was drunk.
The notice was served by licensing officer PC Stephen Alexander after
a CCTV operator saw a drunk woman in the High Street.
The operator tracked the woman with the cameras because of concern
for her safety.
PC Alexander, who is based at the Dover Community Safety Unit,
attended and spoke to the woman shortly after she had bought a can of
Stella from a shop in High Street.
The alcohol was seized under local authority powers and the shop
worker who sold the alcohol was given the fixed penalty notice.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 26
May, 2011. 60p
SHOP BEER CONFISCATED
A SHOP had more than 330 cases of beer taken away as adequate
paperwork was not produced during a spot check.
The shop, in the centre of Dover, received a visit from a Kent Police
licensing officer and a team from HM Revenue and Customs.
The swoop was called Operation Clean Sweep.
A police spokesman said: "The majority of the premises were all
working well however, one premises could not produce paperwork for beer
in the shop.
"As a result of this HM Revenue and Customs have taken the beer away
to be stored and allowed the owner time to produce the relevant
paperwork."
During the event Kent Police also arrested one man for theft of
metal, arranged the removal of a car with dangerous parts and stopped 12
cyclists and advised them not to ride on the path.
Staff from Dover District Council found an overcrowded home, a
blocked fire escape and lack of fire precautions in several homes.
Two officers from the UK Border Agency spoke with 22 people and made
further Inquiries with 14 of them. They are still in discussions with
two.
Also taking part in Operation Clean Sweep were representatives from
Dover District Council, including Civil Enforcement Officers, other
officers from Kent Police, the Dover Community Safety Unit, Kent Fire
and Rescue service, the UK Border Agency; Kent County Council's Trading
Standards, Education Welfare Officer and Community Wardens.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 9 June, 2011. 60p
VIOLENT RAMPAGE OF 15-PINT DRUNK
Report by Gary Wright
A FATHER drank at least 15 pints of lager before he smashed his way
into his girlfriend's home and beat up her new boyfriend.
Paul McCairn, 33, also hit the police officer who was called to the
house in Sandown Close, Deal, to arrest him, and last Wednesday appeared
before magistrates in Folkestone to be sentenced.
The court heard McCairn had spilt from his girlfriend of 13 years
Claire Kennedy, and their nine-year-old son, after he had an affair
which resulted in a pregnancy.
McCairn moved back in with his mum in Wilson Avenue, Deal, but on
April 15 he had cycled over to the house, where he knew his former
girlfriend was with her new partner.
At an earlier hearing on May 4 he had admitted two assault charges, a
charge of possessing a knife in a public place and another of using
violence to secure entry.
Prosecuting, Rachael Laughland told the court: "Leading up to the
assaults he'd drunk 15 or 16 pints of lager between 5pm and just before
midnight. That was a normal amount when he went out."
The court was told he arrived at the house and smashed a window to
get in and then went looking for the boyfriend, who was hiding in his
son's bedroom, as his ex-girlfriend called the police.
He punched the new boyfriend repeatedly in the face and when the
police arrived, McCairn punched the arresting police officer.
Since his arrest on April 16 for the double assault he has been
sacked from his job as a care worker.
Leanne James, mitigating; told the court McCairn had always worked
with adults with learning difficulties.
She added: "Sadly, since he can no longer work, this means the
property where Miss Kennedy and his son lived and he paid the mortgage
for will be repossessed and they will have to move."
Before magistrates decided the sentence she reminded them he also has
maintenance to pay for a second child.
Sentencing him to 150 hours of unpaid work, the chairman of the
magistrates bench Alistair Lloyd said: "I don't know how you didn't
drown with all that volume of lager. The compensation payments will
teach you to keep your hands to yourself."
He was also ordered to pay £100 to the boyfriend Leslie Burrows and
the same amount to police Inspector Stephens, with £85 costs to be paid
at £10 a fortnight.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 9 June, 2011. 60p
A REAL-ALEY GOOD CAUSE
THE Dover War Memorial Project has received a boost from the town's
real-ale drinkers.
The White Cliffs Festival of Winter Ales, held in February, adopted
the Dover War Memorial Project as its 2011 Festival charity. Drinkers at
the event paid for their beer using tokens and when they left they were
encouraged to donate the value of any unused token to the project.
At a ceremony held in "Blakes"
in Castle Street on May 25, Martin Atkins, chairman of the Deal, Dover,
Sandwich and District branch of CAMRA presented a cheque for £500 to
Marilyn Stephenson-Knight of DWMP.
He said "We were so pleased to have seen the project move so far
forward in the last year that the Festival committee took the unusual
step of choosing it as the recipient of our charity donation for the
second year running. This is a worthy cause that highlights to younger
people the history of all those from Dover who have died in defence of
our country."
From the Dover Mercury, 16 June, 2011.
70p
CAMRA GROUP'S CHEER FOR WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT
CHEQUE PRESENTATION: Manlyn Stephenson-Knight, from the Dover War
Memorial Project, and Martin Atkins and Dave Green from CAMRA.
REAL ale campaigners have made a £500 donation to the Dover War
Memorial Project as a result of the White Cliffs Beer Festival which was
held Dover Town Hall in February. It's the second successive year that
the project has been adopted as the good cause to be supported by
Campaign for Real Ale's Dover, Deal, Sandwich and District branch. The
presentation took place at "Blake's"
in Castle Street, Dover when branch chairman Martin Atkins said the
project was a very worthwhile cause, which they are happy to support.
"We have taken the unusual step of supporting it for a second year as
we were so very pleased with how far forward the DWMP has moved over the
last year," he said.
"We are particularly pleased to have supported their Unknown Warrior
90th Anniversary project, teaching hundreds of young people about local
casualties and memorials and the significance of remembrance."
Marilyn Stephenson-Knight said the project were very grateful for the
donation.
"Every penny will be put to good use in memory of our fallen," she
said. "The Dover War Memorial Project is completely voluntary, and we
fund as much as we can ourselves, personally. But to continue all the
work we do we are totally dependent on donations and last year we were
down to the last few pounds, and struggling.
"Completely unexpectedly, along came Camra - like the 7th Cavalry to
the rescue with just the help we needed, at just the right time.
"We used part of last year's donation to research and win a grant
from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
"From that we were able to co-ordinate the Unknown Warrior project,
benefiting and teaching young people all across Kent and into London. We
have lots of plans for the future too."
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 21 July, 2011. 60p
FLEEING SHOPLIFTER LEFT HIS CHILDREN IN STORE
Thief stole trainers one day after arrest for taking
whisky
Report by Gary Wright
A SHOPLIFTER swapped his grubby trainers for a brand new pair in an
outlet store and when spotted by staff ran off leaving his three
children behind.
Darron Fagg, 38, of Royal Victoria Place, High Street, Dover;
appeared before Folkestone Magistrates Court last Wednesday to plead
guilty to two shoplifting charges.
When he stole the trainers he was on police bail having been arrested
only the previous day for another shoplifting offence where be had tried
to hide stolen goods inside the shop, then return later.
Prosecutor Neil Sweeney told the court "On July 8 he went into the
Co-Op in Dover and put three bottles of whisky into a Tesco bag he had
with him. He went to the clothing area of the store, out of sight of
CCTV and then left the shop without the bag.
"He returned a few hours later, wearing different clothes, went to
the place he'd stashed the bottles then walked out. But the bottles set
off the alarm."
His scam was revealed on CCTV and he was arrested by police on July
11 - his birthday - where he confessed that he only stole to get money
to pay for his heroin addiction.
He was released on bail but the following day he went to the Original
Factory Shop in Deal with his three children.
Mr Sweeney said: "He pulled the security tag from the trainers,
damaging them, and then put them on and put his old shoes in the box.
When he realised he was being watched by a member of staff, he ran off
leaving his three children in the shop.
"When he was arrested by police he told them he was trying the shoes
on then couldn't find his old ones. He said: "I shouldn't have to walk
home in bare feet."
During: Fagg's appearance last week magistrates could not sentence
him as he had also failed to comply with a previous community order
which the Probation Service is already in the process of asking to be
revoked.
Fagg's solicitor Donald Worsley told magistrates that if his client
was not released on bail, his three children would be taken into care as
their mother is also a known drug addict.
He explained his client was taking a heroin substitute as part of
efforts to get clear of the drug.
he said: "My client is on 40 milligrams of methadone a day, his wife
is on 90 and by herself she cannot cope.
"Their children are six, eight and ten years old and the mother
sleeps for much of the day. My client suffered a leg injury which has
meant hospital treatment and he has tried to get his family away from
drugs by moving to another part of Dover recently."
Magistrates will sentence Fagg on July 27 after full probationary
reports have been completed.
He was released on conditional bail and was told to report daily to
Dover Police Station.
From the Dover Mercury, 28 July, 2011. 70p
THREE-YEAR BAN FOR DRINK-DRIVER
A MAN who admitted drink-driving has been banned for three years.
Glyn David Kirk, 46, of Folkestone Road, Dover, appeared at Channel
Magistrates' Court, Folkestone.
The court heard he was driving in Pencester Road, on February 12,
when he was stopped and gave a breath test of 55 micro-grammes of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Magistrates disqualified Kirk from driving for 36 months and fined
him £120.
The disqualification will be reduced by nine months if Kirk
satisfactorily completes a course approved by the Secretary of State by
November 13, 2013, costing £192
Kirk must also pay court costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £15.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 11 August, 2011. 60p
PUB WORKER'S ROAD BAN FOR DRINK DRIVING
man admits drinking a 'fair few'
Report by Gary Wright
A FORMER P&O worker was caught drink driving by an eagle-eyed cop who
spotted him pulling up in the middle of the road at 3am.
The WPC pulled over Darren Chaffey's Ford Focus. He was arrested after
telling the officer he had "drunk a fair few."
Chaffey; 62, of Mill Road, Deal, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates
Court last week where he admitted a charge of drink driving on July 21.
The court heard that he was stopped in Western Road, Deal, less than a
mile from his home after he had stayed on with pals at the pub where he
works as a barman.
Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told the court: "He stumbled out of the
vehicle and the police officer
could smell alcohol on his breath. When he was asked by the officer how
much he had been drinking he told her: "I don't know, a fair few."
He gave a breath test and the reading was 60 microgrammes of alcohoI in
100 milliIitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.
The court was told that when he was arrested he said: "I should never
have got in a car."
Defence solicitor Leanne
James said her client, who had a clean licence, had worked for P&O
Ferries for 30 years but has retired from seafaring and now worked in a
pub.
Diabetic
She said: "My client is diabetic and had not eaten all day. Clearly the
alcohol got into his system and he did not calculate the effect
"He can't explain why he got
into the car, normally he will take a taxi home."
Miss James explained that the loss of his licence would cause Chaffey
problems looking after his grandchildren and had only told his partner
about his arrest on the day of his court appearance.
She said: "He will have to tell his son and daughters that he can no
longer use the car to help with his part-time caring duties for his
grandchildren."
Chaffey who was smartly dressed in a suit and tie, was banned from
driving for 17 months, fined £350 with £85 costs with a £15 victim
surcharge.
He was offered the option to take part in a drink drive awareness
course, which will cost him £192, but once completed will cut his ban by
25 per cent meaning he could be back on the road by September 2012.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 25 August, 2011. 60p
RAIL ALE EVENT
AN ALE and cider festival is to be held at the East Kent Railway
this weekend marking the end of its centenary celebrations.
For three days starting this Saturday, the celebrations will run from
11am to 5pm and boast a wide range of local brews to sample and enjoy.
There will also be a barbeque, and an extended timetable has been
scheduled.
Tickets are priced at £10 per adult and includes a return ticket and
a pint of ale.
To round off their centenary summer celebrations, volunteers at the
East Kent Railway are holding an beer and cider festival this weekend.
Its 100 years since the railway first opened to freight between
Shepherdswell and Tilmanstone Colliery and a number of special events
have been held to celebrate the anniversary.
The Beer and Cider Festival will take place on Saturday, Sunday and
Monday from 11am-5pm, and it will be the third year that the festival
has been held.
There will be a regular train service operating between Shepherdswell
and Eythorne.
At Eythorne there will be a barbeque, a real ale bar and a real cider
bar, sourced from Gadds' the Ramsgate Brewery, the Wanstum Brewery in
Canterbury and the Tiddly Pomme at Faversham.
There will be music, a coconut shy, cards and dominoes and quiz
sheets. Tickets cost £10 per adult including a return journey and a pint
of ale.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 8 September, 2011. 60p
KEG ARRESTS
Suspected metal thieves trying to smuggle about £250,000 worth of
beer kegs have been arrested.
The Eastern European men allegedly tried to bring through the empty
kegs in five separate lorries last month.
The aluminium kegs remain the property of breweries when empty and
cannot be sold.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 29 September, 2011. 60p
SOME CHEER FOR PUBS
PUBS in the South East, including Dover continue to fare better than
locals in the rest of the country despite punters curbing their
drinking.
Across the UK, trips to the boozer have fallen by 19 per cent in the
past year as shrinking household budgets cut into spending.
The figures from consultants Zolfo Cooper equate to a fall to four
visits a month compared to five a month a year ago.
Over the same period, the average spend per person per visit has
dropped to £15.08 from £17.88, leaving landlords £2.80 worse off per
customer.
The British Beer and Pub Association blames the downturn on UK
alcohol taxes.
A spokesman said: "These figures prove what we've said all along that
the Government is pricing people out of going to locals.
"Hundreds more pubs could close unless something is done.
However, there was better news for landlords in London and the South
East as the region recorded the fewest number of drinkers to report they
are drinking less often this year.
It also has the highest number of drinkers visiting the pub at least
once a week - 51 per cent versus a national average of 44 per cent.
From the Dover Express, Thursday, 13 October, 2011. 60p
ABUSIVE DRUNK WITH TOWN CENTRE BAN SENT TO PRISON
A DRUNK banned from Dover town centre has been jailed for three
months after breaking the terms of her anti-social behaviour order.
Abbie Thompson, 26, appeared before Folkestone magistrates on Friday
for sentence after admitting at a hearing on Monday that she had
breached her community order and the Asbo issued less than a month ago
for racially abusing a shopkeeper. The terms of the Asbo were not to
consume alcohol in any public place, nor to use abusive language or
behaviour for two years.
Nell Sweeney, prosecuting, told the court: "On October 1 police were
called to an incident Involving an ambulance crew in Worthington Street.
"They arrived to find the defendant, who was obviously drunk, with
red eyes and smelling of alcohol, carrying half a can of Special Brew in
one hand and in the other, a carrier bag with three more cans. She kept
telling police officers to "f*** off' and used the c-word repeatedly."
Magistrates revoked the community order and send Thompson to jail.
Chairman of the bench Cynthia Constable said: "You have totally
failed to comply with the order and we are sending you to prison for 90
days.
"You have refused to comply with anything, you have harassed members
of the public, and that's not a nice thing to do."
From the Dover Mercury, 29 December, 2011.
70p
PUB NAME WISDOM
I READ Martin Tapsell's letter two weeks ago about JD Wetherspoon
naming its new pub and instantly thought (I'm sure like many others) our
own Sir Norman Wisdom. Wouldn't it be a lovely idea to honour him in
this way?
Jeanne Thompson, address supplied.
From the Dover Express, 29 December, 2011. 60p. Report
by Gary Wright
SHOP CLEANER TOOK DRINKS
Claimed depression and anxiety over wife in
mitigation
CO-OP cleaner Derek Revell swiped bottles of booze when he was supposed
to be mopping floors.
Revell, 55, of Beaufoy Terrace, Dover, appeared before Folkestone
magistrates last week where he admitted taking alcohol worth a total of
£122 over eight
nights from the shop in Pencester Gardens.
He was caught when staff realised drink was disappearing and they
checked the store's CCTV cameras for the time between October 28 and
November 4.
When he was arrested Revell told police he was depressed after the death
of his mum and when he discovered his wife was having an affair, Neil
Sweeney, prosecuting, told the court.
But his wife sat at the back of the court to support her husband and
magistrates heard they were reconciled.
Revell of previous good character had only one previous conviction - a
burglary from earlier this year after he broke into his wife's workplace
to try and see her e-mails after he became suspicious that she was
seeing someone else.
Vikki Simpson-Lee, defending,
said her client had struggled financially after his mother's funeral.
“He resorted to alcohol and as a consequence has lost his job,” she
said.
A stand down report was ordered and the Probation Service's David
Mowbray came back into court and said Revell had been a binge drinker
and had suffered separation from his partner this year.
“In 2008 he was drinking a
bottle of whiskey a day but after he was diagnosed with diabetes had
stopped,” said Mr Mowbray “This year had been difficult but he has not
drunk since he was arrested for the alcohol theft.”
He was given a 12-month community order with an order that he undergo an
alcohol treatment course and a course on avoiding re-offending. He was
told to repay the £122 to the Co-Op with £85 costs.
From the Dover Express, 29 December, 2011. 60p. Report
by Gary Wright
MAN ADMITS TO STEALING VODKA
DOVER: Notorious drunk James Reid was back in court facing charges
last week.
Reid, 34, formerly of Edred Road, Dover, appeared before Folkestone
magistrates on December 21 where he admitted stealing a £12 bottle of
vodka from Asda on October 25 and failing to surrender his bail for the
court hearing on November 14.
He was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid work and, because of his
outstanding fines of £390, magistrates ordered he pay just £20 towards
the court costs.
