From the Dover Mercury, 22 October, 2009.

Fancy goods, books and Walmer stout

by Judith Gaunt.

LOOKING back at the history of Deal's town centre, it seems many shops and homes were demolished for road widening projects.

This week's old Now and Then photo shows just one example of the disappearance of a few seafront properties.

It illustrates a quieter, traffic free Beach Street, at the junction of Broad Street, compared to the busy scene motorists drive past today.

The photograph was taken by a Mrs Broom, who claimed to be Britain's first female press photographer.

The house on the right of the Broad Street junction was later demolished for road widening. Alongside was Edwin Frederick Giraud's stationer and printer, bookseller, newspaper agent and toys and fancy good shop, which was in a prime position to take advantage of the trade from visitors to the seaside.

The shop was later run by Miss Giraud and included a marine library, run by Charles Edward Mudie, a publisher who created a lending service throughout the country.

On the far left of the old photograph was Mangilli's cafe and restaurant, run by Italian Achille Mangilli and later by Tobia and Rosa Mangilli. The business became the Imperial Restaurant and then The Pegasus Cafe, popular with teenagers for egg and chips on a Saturday night.

Ian Dunkerley and his wife Linda bought the premises in 1987 as a restaurant and 10 years later bought The Pier Hotel next door, transforming the two properties into the award-winning business it is today.

The photograph shows that the Pier was under the ownership of Thompson & Son, the Walmer brewery. Ales, stout and porter were sold, according to the hand signing on the front of the corner property.

Above shows the same scene today 2009.