GUINEA Pubs of Whitstable

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Whitstable, October, 2025.

Page Updated:- Friday, 31 October, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1841-

Guinea Inn

Latest 1970s+

31 Island Place

Whitstable

Above photo, date unknown, by Douglas West.

Above photo, circa 1908, kindly set by Rory Kehoe.

The photograph was taken in the back yard of the Guinea and features the pub's dart team, which had presumably won a toughly-fought match, or maybe come top of a local league. The board is a Kent Doubles board, which would have been made of elm and to keep it in good condition, needed to be soaked in water every night.

Names on the back of the photograph are:

Rear (L-R) Johnnie Perkins (later Police Constable). ????, Alice Whorlow, Jim Paine, Reg Perkins, ????, Harry "Spy" Whorlow, ????, Warner (Middle Wall).

Front (L-R) Court, ????, R Merritt, ????, 5., John Gower (Licensee), ????, Vic Foreman, ????

Above photo, circa 1909, kindly set by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1911, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Showing the Guinea in the livery of Flint's St. Dunstan's Brewery, Canterbury. Standing outside the pub are Mr & Mrs John Gower, their daughter and grandchildren. It's quite likely that this photograph was taken, so that it could be used on business publicity cards for the Guinea, as was the custom in those days.

Above photo, circa 1939, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Showing licensees, Fred Rigden (second from left) and (seated) his wife, Minnie. The identity of the other two gentlemen isn't known but they were probably pub regulars. The Guinea became a Fremlin's house in 1926, when Alfred Leney's Phoenix Brewery, Dover (which had acquired Flint's Canterbury Brewery in 1924) leased its entire tied estate to the Maidstone brewery, in what was, in effect, a merger of the two companies. At a stroke, Fremlin's (which, until 1926, only had one tied house) acquired some 160 pubs, mostly in East Kent, all of which went "under the elephant." However, there was a little more in play than just a simple commercial amalgamation, as the Fremlin and Leney families were related and from 1926, Fremlin's was managed by brothers Alfred and Claude Leney.

Above photo, 1936, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Showing the Guinea in its days as a Fremlin's tied house. As the windows proclaim, the pub had previously been within the tied estate of Flint's St. Dunstan's Brewery, until the 1924 takeover by Alfred Leney's Phoenix Brewery, Dover. Only two years later, Leney's merged with Fremlin's, Maidstone Brewery and the Guinea went "under the elephant." The lady standing in front of the pub is Mrs Minnie Rigden, wife of Fred Rigden.

Above photo, 1952, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1953, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

This photograph, probably taken on the 1st/2nd February, shows the aftermath of the overnight flooding on Saturday 31st January, when the North Sea paid Whitstable and most of the North Kent coast, an unwelcome visit. With its cellar flooded, it's doubtful that the Guinea did very much business that week. Wet trade only!

Above photo, showing George Harman and siblings 1960s.

Above photo taken and sent by Steve Glover, August 2017.

Above photo, 10 August 2025, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

It's evident that the property, now in residential use, has had part of its eastern elevation removed, possibly to facilitate creation of the driveway which runs down the side of the building. The fascia used to read Flint's Celebrated Ales & Stout but the word "Flint's" has disappeared (1911 photo) and it appears that the remaining raised lettering has, at some time, been levelled out.

Known to be established by 1841.

The "Guinea Inn" was part of Dollar Row, built by a native of Whitstable, who became a deep-sea diver and discovered gold in the wreck of a Spanish Armada ship off the coast of Scotland. The inn was so called because its construction was paid for with spade guineas, which presumably had been received as payment for the Spanish gold.

Another story relating to the naming goes as follows:- The diver found dollars on a wrecked Spanish galleon, hence Dollar Row and that he also retrieved some Spade Guineas from another wreck and named the pub he built in commemoration of this. Spade Guineas, from the era of George III, were so named due the shield design on the reverse looking like a spade.

It was used mainly by the locals, especially the fishing and boatyard workers. During the second World War the Army were on Emplacement duty across the road in R. J. Perjins' boatyard, from where they used to visit the pub. Before they left for other duties the Officers thanked licensee Mrs. Minnie Rigden for her hospitality.

I am informed that this used to be a Whitbread, ex-Fremlin's pub. It was on the left with the sea on the right. Rory Kehoe says it was definitely there (tiny, smoky, with a chap called Wilf on the piano) in the early 1980s.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 14 September, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

NEW LICENSES.

There were six applications for spirit licenses on the part of beer-shop keepers, viz, John Brooker, of the “Richmond Tavern,” Brook-street, Herne Bay; Thomas Newington, “Cross Keys,” Chartham; William Henry Pettman, of the “Guinea,” John Harman, of the “Prince Albert,” and William Philpott, of the “Dredgerman’s Arms,” all of the parish of Whitstable; and Samuel James Salter, of the “Queens Head,” Seasalter.

LICENSEE LIST

PETTMAN William Henry 1841-61+

CURLING Richard 1874+

GRIFFITHS William 1889+

GRIFFITHS Edwin 1881-91+ (age 69 in 1891)