BRITANNIA Pubs of Margate

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Margate, September, 2023.

Page Updated:- Monday, 18 September, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1828-

Britannia

Closed 15 Jan 2020

42 Fort Hill (East Cliff )

Margate

01843 280609

https://whatpub.com/britannia

Above photo date unknown.

Above photo 2019.

Above sign left, October 1986, sign right 2012.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

The "Britannia" is a hexagonal shaped building situated next to the police station today and has a wonderful view over the harbour and one time Jetty, and may add to the claim that this was a hunting lodge belonging to the Cobb's Brewing and Banking family. In the 19th Century was next door to Cobb's Brewery who held the freehold here from at least 1820 to October 1968 when they were bought out by Whitbread, who took just three years to demolish the brewery.

In the early 1900's minstrels would entertain on the forecourt in front of the pub, which is now its car park.

Above photo, circa 1900.

It is said that there are a huge amount of tunnels under the area and the cellar of the "Britannia" also has a tunnel entrance reputed to be used by smugglers leading to the nearby Margate Caves. These tunnels were used as an entrance to the Fort air raid shelters during the two World Wars.

The pub was also used by the rescued heroes landing in Margate after being brought home from Dunkirk 1940.

A projectile smashed through the bedroom window and embedded itself 4 inches in the wall after one of the unsuccessful attempt to blow up the rotting iron remains of the storm damaged jetty.

One time Cobbs tied house. Cobbs were founded in 1673, but Whitbread took them over early 1968 and closed the brewery later that year.

Chris Richford tells me the following:- This pub is next door to Margate police station. In 1968 the remains of the Cobbs brewery buildings were still standing. The original police station was in Margate old town. The new police station had opened in 1966 on the site of the brewery. Mr Cobb, while chairman of the Kent Police Authority had apparently gifted the site to Kent County Council. As they had intended to acquire the old TA centre/fire brigade/ambulance station at Westwood to have one station for the whole of Thanet, the gift kept Broadstairs and Ramsgate stations going for at least another 40 years.

In the 1980s, a skeleton was found under the floorboards inside the pub and used to be displayed, covered by a glass plate, in the main bar.

The pub today (2011) the pub is one of East Kent's Premier Live Music Venues.

The pub was disrupted in August 2019 due to unruly travellers in the location. (View here.)

From the https://theisleofthanetnews.com by Kathy Bailes, 3 January, 2020.

Margate landlord announces the closure of The Britannia pub.

The Britannia pub in Margate will close its doors for good on January 15, says landlord Paul Rollins, due to pressures including ‘crippling’ business rates.

Paul and wife Edna have run the Fort Hill boozer for almost five years and hit the headlines with their £1 Sunday roast dinners last year. The venue has also put on a host of live music nights and other events over the years,

But Paul, 66, says running the “pub is not viable.”

Paul and Edna have been at the helm of the pub for almost five years Photo John Hutson.

In September Paul, who is the President of the Licensed Victuallers Association Thanet Branch, revealed during a meeting that he was paying a huge £22,000 a year in business rates.

The British Beer and Pub Association says: “Business rates are a major cost to pubs, who pay a disproportionate amount compared to other sectors.

“In April 2017 there was a revaluation of rates across the UK, with many pubs seeing further significant increases. We believe major reform is required and until that point additional relief should be given specifically for pubs.”

The Britannia has also made the decision to keep the doors closed today (January 3) as a precaution due to a Traveller encampment currently at the Lido car park in Cliftonville. Last August Bank Holiday the pub had to shut when trouble flared with a group staying at the same site.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Millie Bowles, 18 August 2023.

The Britannia pub in Margate could be turned into flats.

Plans have been unveiled to turn a former pub famous for serving Britain’s cheapest roast dinner into four flats.

The Grade II-listed Britannia in Fort Hill, Margate, dates back to about 1828 and hit national headlines in 2019 when the landlord began serving £1 Sunday roasts.

Unfortunately, the following January the inn closed its doors for good, citing rising costs, and it has remained empty ever since.

Now, a bid to “reinvigorate” the venue by converting it into four flats by building a two-storey extension to the rear, and adding two semi-detached cottages in the beer garden, has been submitted.

Documents lodged by architects Ian Barber Associates say: “The proposals ensure that the existing building will be complemented by the new works, allowing for a positive addition to the site without detriment to the locality.

“They will improve the living quality and standard of the existing building and future occupiers, while not unacceptably intruding into the landscape and street scene or the listed building.”

Developers promise to retain the existing historical features of the 19th century public house, including an internal flint wall.

They also hope to reinstate some which have been lost throughout the pub’s lifetime such as sash windows, and remove modern partition walls.

The architects add: “There have been various alterations to the existing building over time, not all in character with the age and style of the property, consisting of extensions to the front side and rear, with many unsympathetic internal alterations.

“These new plans will provide life to the site and period building, and reinvigorate its continued use.”

The apartments will all have three bedrooms, as will the houses.

Behind the white castle-style wall at the front of the building, it is hexagonal in shape and has an incredibly rich history.

It was once owned by Cobbs Brewery, which made beer at an adjoining site demolished in the 1960s to make way for Margate police station.

It is rumoured the cellar connects to the Margate Caves and tunnels used by smugglers, and the tavern was used to house soldiers rescued from Dunkirk.

A skeleton was found under the floorboards in the 1980s and the publican of the time covered the portion of the floor with glass and displayed it.

In more recent times, it was known as a great music venue, and hundreds of people flocked from as far as Yorkshire to try the famous £1 roast.

Developers want to add two houses in the garden of The Britannia in Margate.

The food – despite the meagre price tag – was highly enjoyed by all accounts, and landlord Paul Rollins said he made the money back by the extra advertising and customers.

LICENSEE LIST

HUBBARD John 1826-32+