Folkestone Herald 6 December 1980.

Local News.

All boozers great and small packed into The Pullman wine bar on Sunday to prove their prowess at the wrong end of a yard-of-ale glass. In fact, nearly 450 people crammed into the popular Folkestone hostelry to watch a hardy few attempt this astonishing feat.

Within a few minutes the mood of the day was set. Contestants discovered that if swallowing the contents of the glass wasn't the real problem, keeping it down for a dignified length of time certainly was. And it proved that appearances can be deceptive; vast barrel-like people could scarcely cope with half the glass before giving up. Others, mere wisps of humanity, who looked as though they would pass out on one small sherry, gulped it down with gusto. In fairness to those who either gave up – or threw up – the beer, kindly donated by Scottish and Newcastle and Whitbread breweries, was, in the words of the advert, “Frothy, man”. And, served out of what can only be described as a plastic watering-can, hardly appetizing to look at. Combined with an icy wind that whipped the stomach (from the look of some of the contestants, both within and without) it made the beer drinking a daunting task. However, at the end of the day, all the competitors appeared to survive and, in the process, managed to raise £200 for Folkestone Rugby Club.

Organiser, Mr. Geoff Bond, told the Herald and Gazette “The afternoon was a roaring success and everyone enjoyed themselves”.

Prizes of tankards, bottles of booze, and a yard of ale drinking glass for the fastest time, were given to the winners by ex-speedway rider, Graham Miles. Winners were: Mr. Alan Ashford, of Canterbury Road, Hawkinge, who had the fastest time of 15 seconds. Close behind him was Mr. Bob Sadler, of New Dover Road, Capel, with a time of 19 seconds. Evonne Smith won the prize for the women's fastest time with 1 minute 55 seconds. And Wendy Fisher, of Queen's Road, New Romney, was given a prize for spilling the most beer.

Folkestone Herald 27 December 1980.

Local News.

Eight boys stole nearly £2,000 when they broke into Folkestone's Pullman Wine Bar. At Folkestone Juvenile Court on Monday the boys, aged between 12 and 16, admitted stealing £1938.03 from the wine bar in Church Street.

The Court heard that, on September 7, owner Mr. Kim Pardoe, took the weekend's takings and put them in a drawer in the flat above. At about 10.15 that evening, Mr. Pardoe went upstairs to find doors and drawers open and the money, in cash and cheques, gone. On September 24 a boy was arrested. Over the next few days another seven were arrested and questioned by police.

Prosecuting, Mr. Michael Batt said five boys kept watch in Church Street, while the others climbed up onto the roof of the wine bar. One boy entered the bedroom where the money was through a skylight. Mr. Batt said the boys told police the money was spent in fairgrounds and amusement arcades.

Sentencing them, presiding Magistrate, Mr. Conrad Blakey, told the boys “People have suffered because of you, but now you are the sufferers. If you want to continue a life of crime, you will suffer and you will always come off worse”.

The boys were ordered to pay a total of £175 compensation. A contribution of 20 towards Legal Aid was ordered, and fines of £20 imposed.

Care orders were placed on four boys, a two year supervision order on one and another was sent to a detention centre for three months. Two boys' cases were adjourned until January 19, when they are to be represented by a solicitor.

Folkestone Herald 17 January 1981.

Local News.

The Pullman Wine Bar and Restaurant in Church Street, Folkestone, has been taken over by Watney’s, the brewers.

Mr Kim Pardoe, owner of the Pullman, has sold the freehold. The takeover takes place on February 2. Watney’s has now leased the Pullman to Mr and Mrs M. Barnwell, of Hastings. At present they are the tenants of the Beau Pipe public house in Hastings. The company has offered jobs to the five staff members who now work at the Pullman. Mr Pardoe refused to reveal the amount of money he had been paid by Watney’s, but confirmed that he was "having thoughts about a new restaurant”. Mr Pardoe and his wife, Pam, are moving to nearby Arpinge and are believed to be thinking of opening a new restaurant, with reservations only, in the spacious house they have bought. The couple have emphasised that they are not leaving the Folkestone area and expect to be back in business within three months.

Folkestone Herald 24 January 1981.

Local News.

Two youths who took part in a raid involving nearly £2,000 on a wine bar were sent to detention centre on Monday. They were among eight youths involved in the burglary in September. Six of them were dealt with at an earlier hearing before Folkestone Juvenile Court. Another youth, aged 15, admitted a different burglary at the Pullman Wine Bar in Church Street, Folkestone. That raid involved the theft of £300. He also amitted breaking into a flat in Earls Avenue, Folkestone, and stealing jewellery worth £11.50. He was placed under supervision for two years and was ordered to pay £4.65 ompensation. The two youths, aged 14 and 15, who admitted taking part in the £1,983 raid at the wine bar, were each sent to detention for three months and ordered to pay £50 compensation.

Folkestone Herald 7 March 1981.

Maidstone Crown Court.

A youth with “an appalling record” was sent to borstal on Monday. He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court with another 16-year-old youth and a 15-year-old girl - all from Folkestone. They were committed for sentence by Magistrates at Folkestone Juvenile Court on February 9. The first youth had been found guilty on two charges of burglary, one of damaging property and another of going equipped for burglary. The other youth was found guilty of going equipped for burglary and the girl of one charge of burglary.

Prosecuting, Mr William Norris said the first youth was arrested in September in connection with a burglary at a pub in Folkestone on August 29, when £220 in cash and £2,000 in jewellery was stolen. He was again questioned by police when he was stopped, along with the other boy, on October 4 at 6 a.m. in Folkestone. They had gloves, knives, torches and putty with them. Both denied being equipped for burglary.

The burglary the first youth committed with the girl occurred between December 23 and 29 at a house in Hill Road, Folkestone, where they stole £640 in cash after breaking in through the bathroom window.

Defending the first youth, Mr Christopher Kinch said he had an “appalling record” which dates back to 1974. He also asked for three similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Judge Thomas Edie sentenced the youth to a period of borstal training. He deferred sentence on the other youth until September 1 after reading a probation report recommending an attendance centre order. The girl, who had not previously been in trouble, was given a supervision order for two years.

Folkestone Herald 20 June 1981.

Local News.

When barman Marc Jaros was handed a rather shabby and old looking £10 note he had a feeling something was not right. It was given to him by three men to pay for a round of drinks at the Pullman Wine Bar in Church Street, Folkestone, on Monday lunchtime. Before the bar manager dished out change to the waiting customers he took a closer look at the suspicious note. As he examined it the three men ran out leaving their drinks on the bar. Comparing the money with another note Mr Jaros discovered it was a completely different colour and didn’t even have a water mark. By that time the three men were out of sight and the incident was reported to the police. Mr Jaros said he did not know the men and had not seen them in the town before.

Folkestone Herald 27 June 1981.

Inquest.

Former wine bar boss Geoff Bond, who was found hanged last week, committed suicide.

East Kent coroner, Dr. Ralph Vaughan, recorded a suicide verdict after a 40 minute inquest at Ashford.

The body of Mr. Bond was discovered by his friend, schoolteacher Paul Barber, when he returned home for lunch on Thursday, June 18. It was found hanging from an attic beam with a piece of webbing round the neck. A chair had been used to tie the webbing, and the buckle at one end formed part of the noose. Mr. Bond was found with one foot on the chair, Coroner's Officer, P.C. Don Weeks, said.

Cause of death was given as asphyxia due to strangulation.

Mr. Barber told the inquest that he had known Mr. Bond since 1974. The dead man had done a variety of jobs, including lorry driving and working in Germany, before he became bar manager at the Pullman Wine Bar, Church Street, Folkestone, in 1977. He was sacked from the wine bar in December last year, said Mr. Barber, although the reasons behind his dismissal were never clear. “He was, at the time, very bitter about it, because he realised he had put in a lot of work there”, Mr. Barber said. Thirty-six-year old Mr. Bond had been living next door to the bar but, after he left the job, moved into Mr. Barber's house in Brambley Crescent, Golden Valley. There Mr. Bond planned to start promoting pop groups he had put on at the wine bar. Other schemes included opening a restaurant or a similar type of wine bar. Sometimes he worked 20 hours a day, getting very little sleep, said Mr. Barber. After a while Mr. Bond went to the United States, came back, and then returned there on business. But within a month he was back looking for a job. By this time Mr. Bond had changed, spending large periods of time sleeping, although, said Mr. Barber, he didn't appear to be depressed. In debt to his bank, Mr. Bond had several other personal debts. A garage took his car because he owed for work done on it. However, he had £400 in a business account, which would have paid off his bank overdraft, said Mr. Barber. The other debts were starting to sort themselves out.

P.C. Weeks told the inquest no suicide note had been found. There were no drugs or medicine in the house when a search was made.

Pathologist Dr. Derek Wells said Mr. Bond had been in very good shape, with no obvious signs of disease.

Earlier, the court heard Mr. Bond had received treatment for mental illness at Preston Hall, near Chatham, without any real results, said his brother, Mr. Emlyn Bond. While Mr. Bond had periods of intense “highs”, said his brother, he did not have corresponding “lows”. He had never mentioned the possibility of committing suicide.

Verdict: Mr. Bond took his life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

Folkestone Herald 7 June 1985.

Local News.

Teenager Mark Taylor was fined £60 on Friday for assaulting two people in a brawl outside a wine bar. Taylor, who admitted causing Anthony Dixon and Helen Barton actual bodily harm, was ordered to pay £10 prosecution costs.

Gareth Isaac, prosecuting, said Mr. Dixon, 19, and 18-year-old Miss Barton were in Folkestone’s Pullman wine bar on May 10. During the evening a friend went outside and Mr. Dixon followed. An argument began and Taylor for no apparent reason hit Mr. Dixon in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Although he did not realise who had hit him, he later discovered from witnesses that it was 17-year- old Taylor. Another argument developed between them and others at the scene. Miss Barton tried to intervene and while she was trying to separate them she was punched in the face by Taylor and fell down. Mr Isaac said the couple suffered only minor cuts and bruising. He added that Taylor, a confectioner, of Archer Road, Folkestone, had a finding of guilt for causing actual bodily harm when a juvenile.

Taylor said he had been arguing with Mr. Dixon and hit him. While they were fighting Miss Barton got in the way and he pushed her. She got hit during the scuffle. He did not recall hitting her, but conceded he might have.

Folkestone Herald 1 November 1985.

Local News.

There were no Halloween revels at Folkestone's Pullman Wine Bar last night because of police objections. Last week Magistrates said “No” to licensee Wil Taylor when he applied for a Halloween night extension at the Church Street bar. A senior police officer told the court “We object to this on the grounds that it is not a special occasion”.

Folkestone Herald 9 January 1987.

Local News.

New Year’s Eve celebrations turned to violence at Folkestone’s Pullman Wine Bar with one young man going to hospital after a glass was thrown in his face. Police were called to the Church Street drinking spot after fighting broke out amongst the mostly young customers. Nobody was arrested.

Peter Read, 19, was taken to the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, to have treatment for a cut face and was then allowed to his home at Appledore Crescent, Folkestone.

Folkestone Herald 15 July 1988.

Local News.

Thirsty summer drinkers in Shepway will have to wait for all-day pub openings because of a Whitehall glitch. The Government has been forced to delay the controversial new licensing laws until September 1. This has been caused by a technical problem at the Home Office which means present “last orders” for another two months. Then pubs will be able to serve alcohol from 11a.m. to 11p.m. all week. But not all Shepway landlords reckon it will be worth the bother.

Horace Brickell from the East Cliff Tavern said “It’s a great idea for some pubs, but for the ones in restricted areas, like us, it’s not much good.

Where we are placed, it won’t make any difference and it will be a waste of time staying open”.

William Taylor, landlord of the Pullman Wine Bar and chairman of the Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers Association, said "There is some confusion, but no-one is forced to stay open. They will be able to choose the hours that suit them.” Mr. Taylor said there were mixed feelings about the changes. “Pubs in busy areas are welcoming them but small, rural or out-of-the-way places are indifferent. Personally, I’m in favour. I think it will give flexibility to the licensee and the public. I don’t think it will cause more drunkenness because people only have a certain amount of money to spend each week. And I don’t mind the extra hours involved because we will get extra staff which will help the dole queue”.

Barry Chamberlain from the White Lion in Cheriton agrees. He said “I think it’s about time change was made. Pubs will become much more suitable for families, and will be more like restaurants. We will try to stay open all day. We are just about to redecorate the pub with the new freedom in mind”.

Michael Norris from the East Kent Arms told us “I’ve accepted that the new laws are coming, although I have mixed feelings about them. I think it’s a shame we are not being allowed to stay open later at night rather than all afternoon. Of course we will be making full use of the new hours and will try to serve food all day. It’s all right for us because we are so centrally placed”.

Eileen Lewis from The Guildhall in The Bayle summed up the feelings of most landlords when she said “If I’m making money, I’ll stay open”. She added “It’s all right for more central pubs, but I can’t see us staying open in winter. The brewery has asked us to give it a three-month trial period. Like other pubs, we’ll just have to feel our way when the change comes”.

Folkestone Herald 19 April 1991.

Local News.

The landlady of Folkestone's Pullman Wine Bar had £6,200 worth of rings stolen on Sunday evening. Suzanna Taylor, 28, lost her wedding and engagement rings along with three other expensive ones.

Mrs. Taylor, who lives above the Church Street bar, said “I took my rings off and put them in my purse because I was doing some work, but I usually wear them”. She left her bag on the public side of the pub when she went to the ladies'. The three other rings were a 22 carat diamond cluster, a gipsy setting three diamond and a gents' Victorian.

Folkestone Herald 30 August 1991.

Local News.

A fire that swept through a Folkestone wine bar killing two pet dogs was halted moments before it spread to surrounding houses. The blaze at Pullman's in Church Street may have been caused by an electrical fault. The buildings in the small row of shops and flats all share one attic, and the fire could have spread quickly along the roofs.

Fire sub-officer Paul Vanstone, who was at the scene, said “Another five minutes and we may have been too late. It was what we call a “good stop” in the fire business”.

Around 40 firemen wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze and evacuated people from nearby flats. At first they thought the owner, 44-year-old William Taylor, was inside. He and his wife Suzanna were at their home in Cherry Garden Avenue, but their two dogs, a Great Dane, Esmerelda, and a bull mastiff, Max, died in the fire.

Mr. Taylor, mourning his pets, had tears in his eyes as he said “We didn't know what to expect when we got there, but finding out about the dogs was the worst thing. Max was eight years old, and Esmerelda would have been one next month. The dogs live at Pullman's; they always sleep upstairs there”.

The couple stay at the wine bar two or three nights a week. A member of staff warned firemen that they might be inside after seeing their car parked nearby.

The eight fire engines that were called to the scene came from as far away as Canterbury and Ashford. It took them five hours to bring the blaze under control. It was only days ago that extensive redecorating work to the popular bar had been finished. Around 20 percent of each floor has been destroyed by fire and the rest is severely smoke damaged.

The fire brigade has launched an investigation into the cause.

Folkestone Herald 26 June 1992.

Local News.

Councillors refused a late hours licence for a wine bar after hearing there had been drug dealing and fighting on the premises. The claims came from a Shepway police officer, who said a woman had been arrested for possessing drugs with intent to supply. He said “We are most strongly concerned about extending the hours. The premises have been used for the supply of drugs”.

The Pullman wine bar in Church Street, near The Bayle, Folkestone, wanted a licence until 1 a.m. on Wednesday to Saturday night when it re-opens, following a fire, in September. But Insp. Cox listed a catalogue of troubles at the bar before the blaze forced its shutdown last year. These included: A woman who pushed a glass into her boyfriend's face; Police being called to three outbreaks of trouble on one night in January, 1991; One large fight just before Christmas, 1990; More violence four days later, in which a man was charged with causing grievous bodily harm. Inspector Cox said “Before the fire we were considering an application to revoke the licence”.

Councillor Peter Doherty said several objectors to the application, in their letters, had also mentioned the use of drugs.

Owner William Taylor said “You can't condemn the wine bar because of one incident where a woman had drugs in her bag. But if we see anything untoward our staff investigate. If anyone is seen with drugs they are asked to leave. If they refuse the police are called. We don't condone drug taking at all”. Mr. Taylor added the bar had a competent security firm plus camera surveillance. He said of the glass injury incident that the woman had actually thrown down the glass during a row with her boyfriend. Fragments shot up and hit his neck. He only had a minor wound and they made up afterwards.

But there had also been complaints of noise, The Bayle Residents' Association saying it was completely quiet and peaceful while the bar was closed down.

Mr. Taylor's wife and co-owner, Suzanna, said “We assure you we don't want yobbos in our wine bar when we have paid £20,000 on refurbishment. We don't want to upset anyone in the area. We live there too”.

The Council's entertainment licensing sub-committee allowed the wine bar to keep its existing hours, not beyond 11 p.m., on condition noise was controlled.

Folkestone Herald 16 October 1992.

Advertising Feature.

Good news for fans of the Pullman, in Church Street, Folkestone. The popular wine bar, damaged in a fire to the dismay of its regulars, has been refurbished and is now open again. Those who sadly missed their favourite meeting place can, once again, enjoy a drink with friends or family amid the splendid new decor. The traditional style has been maintained but sumptuous new carpeting, among other things, has added to the comfortable surroundings. The Pullman now boasts a children's room at the rear, so even if the children cannot play in the garden because of the weather they still have somewhere to be amused – leaving parents to amuse themselves in the bar.

A full food service will soon be available again, but in the meantime you can enjoy the good selection of real ales, excellent lagers, wines and spirits.

An upstairs function room is available for hire, which can accommodate 60 people for a sit down meal, or 120 for a buffet. This makes the Pullman a very suitable venue for wedding receptions, birthday and Christmas celebrations; in fact, all kinds of functions and parties.

If you are an old fan of the Pullman and didn't know that it is back on song, or if you are a newcomer who has never crossed the threshold, make a point of dropping in to enjoy the hospitality. You will be made very welcome.

Folkestone Herald 6 January 1994.

Local News.

A thief stole a woman's handbag during late-night New Year's Eve celebrations in a pub. Marcia Marsh, 28, of Dunnett Road, Folkestone, had left her round, black handbag beside her on her seat at the Pullman Wine Bar, in Church Street, Folkestone, when it was taken. It contained £20 in cash, a make-up bag and make up worth a total of £50, and a bottle of perfume.

Folkestone Herald 8 January 1998.

Local News.

Folkestone landlords have backed a Government proposal to lower the drink-drive limit, despite the effect it may have on their takings. Ministers are considering plans to lower the existing limit from 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mg of blood to 50, bringing the laws in line with the Continent. They are also looking at the idea of introducing a two-tier system, with motorists who are found to be just over the limit receiving lesser penalties.

The lower levels, which are equivalent to just one pint of beer, are yet another thing to hit landlords' coffers. Bootlegging has greatly affected pub takings, with gangs stocking up with beer from abroad and selling it off at cut-price rates. But, say landlords, the new restriction will not be the latest thing to hit the pubs.

Steve Lloyd, manager of the Pullman pub in Church Street, said “Drink affects people differently, so the only way to stop drink-driving is to ban it completely. I don't think this will affect our takings because we sell a lot of alternatives like coffee soft drinks and low alcohol lager. They will help make up the difference. But this two-tier system is stupid. Nobody knows when they've had too much. It just wouldn't work”.

And Caroline Andrewartha, landlady of the Thistle and Shamrock in Rendezvous Street (sic), believes that country pubs will be worst hit. She said “It won't affect me so badly because I'm in the town centre. But country pubs will suffer because people usually have to drive to get to them. I was really busy over the New Year, but a lot of people were talking about having parties indoors. This, together with the bootlegging, has hit us very hard. But money isn't a question when it comes to drink-driving, because it's more important that people aren't hurt”.

And the police are encouraged that landlords have given the plans the thumbs-up. Spokesman Stuart Donaldson said “The police's position has always been very clear – don't drink and drive. We would welcome any new law that lowers the risk of people dying on the road. The new plans make it absolutely clear about how much you can drink when you're driving. Unfortunately there's still a hard core of people who don't take any notice of the law, which is even more of a reason why these new levels should be introduced”.

Folkestone Herald 26 March 1998.

Local News.

A wine bar has won the battle to keep its licence, despite complaints of assaults, foul language, damage and after-hours drinking. Folkestone Magistrates heard a series of complaints about the Pullman when police objected to the bar's licence being renewed last week.

But William Taylor, who has run the popular Church Street bar in Folkestone for the past 15 years, denied he was unable to control the premises.

The two day hearing heard evidence of 17 police visits since 1995, and at least a dozen reports of violence in or outside the bar. These included a pool room scuffle during which a man was assaulted with a cue, and a stabbing with a broken bottle. Sgt. Pat Garry, head of the South East Kent licensing unit, claimed Mr. Taylor had a total disregard for licensing laws and those who attempted to police them.

But Mr. Taylor, Chairman of the local Licensed Victuallers' Association, denied that he could not control the premises and that he was “almost always drunk” during police visits. He maintained he had barred 20 troublemakers and disliked violence. He claimed he was the victim of a vendetta by the criminal fraternity, had been subjected to death threats, and had to get a guard dog.

Magistrates decided not to revoke his licence provided he attends a British Innkeepers Institute course, starts a staff training policy, employs more qualified managers and clarifies the supper licence situation. Chairman of the Bench, Ken London, said “There is a need for improvement and change”. He added “All eyes will be on you now and in the future”.

Folkestone Herald 10 June 1999.

Local News.

After 15 years the Pullman has a new licensee, who is determined to put his personal stamp on the popular pub. Phillipe Foilet, of Hythe, bought the leasehold for the three-storey building in Church Street, Folkestone, from William Taylor. And as problems with drugs, drink and violence escalate in the nineties, Mr. Foilet is determined to prove he will not tolerate trouble.

He said “I have made it clear that I will not tolerate drugs – at the end of the day it's my licence and I don't want to lose it. The staff know who is barred and we are going to carry on refusing those people entry. I want people to come and have a good time and am determined to get rid of any trouble-makers”. Mr. Fiolet also has plans to improve the pub's interior and provide more facilities for families with young children. “There has been a lot of work to do on the toilets, and gradually I will spend money on the upholstery”, he said. “Eventually I hope to open a soft ball play area for children. We are one of the only places that will accept children in the town.”