From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Sam Williams, 19 February 2022.

Couple take over Saracens Head in Deal and become third generation in family to join pub trade.

It will be a family affair when new owners take over a Deal pub this month.

Husband and wife Matthew and Martine Brett got the keys to the Saracens Head, in Alfred Square, on Wednesday last week and will hold the grand opening this coming Friday.

Matthew and Martine Brett will take over the Saracens Head in Deal. Picture: Matthew Brett.

Mr Brett is the third generation in his family to take on a public house, as both his parents and grandparents have run pubs in Deal.

His grandparents, Bill and Iris, ran the "Three Compasses" for around 30 years, and his mum and dad, Lynda and Trevor, were in charge of "Deal Hoy" for seven years in the late 80s and early 90s.

Mum Lynda will now help pull pints at the Saracens Head, while Matthew takes charge in the kitchen and Martine in the bar.

Daughters Olivia and Georgia will also help out with waitressing.

Mr Brett said: "We're very excited to open.

"We have been making improvements to the trading area and the toilets, giving it a bit of a makeover.

"And we'll have live entertainment on our opening night."

Mr Brett, who has played in pool leagues for the town, found his love for the sport playing in his parents' and grandparents' pubs.

He said: "I remember my grandad would turn over a plastic beer crate so I could reach the pool table. In my parent's pub I would play every day."

Mr Brett and his brother would also help out, including cleaning pipes and hosting barbecues in the summers.

Matthew and Martine already run cleaning company, Brett Cleaning Services, and employ 21 members of staff and look after 70 holiday lets as well as commercial businesses.

Mr Brett, 45, joked: "As if we're not busy enough. We must be mad."

The couple will initially open with a soft launch, which will include breakfasts on Saturdays and Sundays, and pulled pork roasts for Sunday lunch.

They will then look to serving an evening menu and lunches.

They are aiming to source all their food from within a 20-mile radius.

Mr Brett said: "A lot of consumers are aware of where their food comes from these days for environmental reasons.

"We will be serving premium ingredients, all sourced locally."

Themed food nights are also planned, such as German sausage evenings, as well as music sessions, including jazz on Sundays.

The pub will open on February 25, with singer Abigail Cardwell due to perform.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Chantal Weller, 16 March 2023.

Saracens Head in Deal put up for sale by Shepherd Neame as landlord tells of struggle to make profit.

Brewery bosses have decided to sell a historic pub after the latest tenants claimed it is “impossible to make a profit”.

Husband and wife duo Matthew and Martine Brett are stepping away from the Saracens Head in Deal just 13 months after taking over.

The couple say they have done “nothing but lose money” since February last year, blaming the cost-of-living crisis and a lack of community support.

Their decision to leave later this year has led to owner Shepherd Neame putting the pub on the market for £425,000.

Mr Brett says the couple are disappointed to be handing back the keys, but believes they were left with little choice.

“I worked out what I needed to make each month, and we’re not even making half of that,” he said.

“It was an ailing pub when we took it on, and was not busy, but we invested thousands in it in the hope of trying to turn the business around to make it viable.”

The father-of-two, who also owns a cleaning business, says there are three main factors which have pushed the family to leave.

“I thought ‘how hard can it be to make £500 a week?’,” he said

“In a nutshell, very hard, because I’ve done nothing but lose money.

“When a pub is ailing it is very, very hard, from what I have experienced now, to turn it around.

“I think there are three factors why we have struggled - the increase in energy costs, location of the pub and lack of community support.

“There are some pubs that struggle and there are a small handful that it doesn’t seem to matter what society, government and costs are thrown at it, they do all right.

“A lot of small businesses are struggling at the moment. We get some local support but it is nowhere near enough to make it viable.”

Mr Brett says trade was busier in the summer months but has been non-existent this winter.

“Deal is a quiet little place, but we do really have a thriving high street, which is good,” he explained.

“But from a hospitality point of view, when that trade disappears in the winter then it does make it a little bit harder.

“If we could move our pub 500 yards up onto the seafront then I have no doubt we would be busy, or if it was 500 yards down into the high street I think it would be viable.”

Mr Brett says it will be a shame to leave the pub, which is now being sold by Shepherd Neame as a licensed premises.

“I think we have a lovely looking pub, which is all bright after we refurbished it,” he said.

“The brewery has done a viability study and found it is not viable anymore as a pub, so they are looking at selling it on.

“It will be a shame because this pub has been standing for the best part of 150 years.

Mr Brett says it is a shame the pub has had to go on the market. Picture: Matthew Brett.

“For me, the worry was if I could not make it work we’d be the last landlord and landlady to shut the door, which is a shame.

“Shepherd Neame has been very supportive in the exit and it is very much business as usual at the pub.

“We still have our pie nights, curry nights, weekend breakfasts and Sunday roasts.

“We are also still having live music and comedy nights and trading at 100% passion and energy.”

The building is thought to date back as far as 1806, when it housed a carpenter’s shop and several apartments.

Some 15 years later the premises was first referred to as the “Saracen’s Head beer house”.

The news of the pub going on the market has also sparked concerns about what will happen to a defibrillator which was installed at the site last summer.

Originally it was hoped the town council would adopt the telephone kiosk in Alfred Square from BT and the defibrillator would be housed in there, but this project failed.

Residents are asking any registered charities to convert this kiosk, and any interested parties should email lady.last@btinternet.com or call 01304 374883.

Shepherd Neame property and services director George Barnes said: “We can confirm that we have taken the decision to sell The Saracens Head, Deal, as it no longer fits our business needs.

"The pub is currently on the market, and is being sold as a licensed premises.”