Thanet Times, Tuesday 28 April, 1964.

Gerry Redmond, Ye Olde Crown.

A half-hour's chat with Gerry Redmond, mine host at "Ye Olde Crown Inn, in Broadstairs, High Street, and one might be forgiven for thinking that he is a retired C.I.D. man from Scotland Yard. Crime and crime reporting are favourite topics of his and he has known most of Fleet Street’s best postwar crime reporters.

With his attractive wife, Kay, Gerry was for several years licence of the "White Swan" in Tudor Street—known to Fleet Street habitués as "The Mucky Duck." They are now in their 11th year at the "Crown" but still miss the thriving trade inevitable in a public house sandwiched between two of the countries biggest publishing houses.

Before Fleet Street, Gerry and Kay worked in the West End and Hampton Hill, entering the trade when he finished his six-year stint in the Army.

Broadstairs may not be Fleet Street, but life is still hectic enough. Gerry gets one "day" off each week and that starts at eight in the evening. He hardly has any time for his only hobby of fast motoring, but still keeps up his average of a car a year.

500 YEARS OLD.

Gerry is a little unsure about the antiquity of his house and would like to know more about it. The back part was formerly three old cottages, some say about 500 years old, and the front portion was added about 60 years ago, when the street was widened.

Unsuspecting new customers at the "Crown" often ask for one of their magic bottle tops. Gerry demonstrates them by throwing one down on the counter where it comes to rest standing on edge. There is no magic. The secret lies in several powerful magnets under the counters.

Gerry and Kay have three children. Their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Melanie, is making a name for herself in the world of sport and is at present the Kent Junior Badminton singles champion.

East Kent Times and Mail, Wednesday 28 June 1967.

Broadstairs pub is allowed two fruit machines.

Although it has been their policy to allow only one fruit machine in each public house, Broadstairs Finance and General Purposes Committee decided, on Monday, to permit two at the "Old Crown Inn," High Street.

Mr. David Bell, for licensee Mr. G. P. Redmond, told the committee that the saloon bar, where the existing machine was sited, was quite separate from the public bar and there was no connection between them. Customers from the public bar wishing to play the machine had to go out into the High Street and round the side of the premises to the saloon bar, which was inconvenient to people in both.

Councillor Edgar Neville said he was opposed to the granting of two permits because it could be taken as a president and other people with two rooms, not necessarily licensed premises, would also apply.

Also opposing, Councillor A. T. Tucker added:- "I feel one machine is enough in any licensed premises. This is something that is being overdone."

Thanet Times, Tuesday 11 March 1969.

Fire damages public house.

The "Crown Inn," High Street, Broadstairs, was severely damaged by fire at the week-end.

Broadstairs firemen were called to the public house after closing time on Sunday afternoon when a passer by saw smoke coming from the building.

When firemen arrived they found the fire had gained a firm hold in the saloon bar on the ground door. Wearing breathing apparatus and using two hose reel jets, they managed to force their way into the building and confine the blaze to the one bar.

The landlord, Mr. C. B. Redmond, was out at the time and the only occupant was his Alsatian dog, which gave firemen a little trouble.

The saloon bar and fittings were severely damaged. One fireman said:- "If we had been half an hour later the whole place would have gone up."

A large crowd gathered in the High Street and the firemen had the blaze under control within half an hour. It is believed that the fire was started by an oil heater which accidentally overturned.