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18-20 Queen Street
Deal
01304 382930
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com
https://whatpub.com/sir-norman-wisdom
Above photos by Tony Wells, February 2013.
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From the Dover Mercury, 7 March, 2013. 80p.
Martin Tapsell took this photo of The "Sir Norman Wisdom" after the
scaffolding came down. |
The latest Wetherspoon's outlet and first one in Deal, this establishment
is not yet open and was originally going to be called the "Five Bells," but
local pressure obviously persuaded the Wetherspon's management to
reconsider.
According to the Wetherspoon's web site the pub is due to open on the 5th
March.
Born Norman Joseph Wisdom on 4th February 1915 in the Marylebone district
of London he was kicked out of his London home by his father but was brought
up in a children's' home in Deal. He ran away from there at the age of 11
but soon returned again becoming an errand boy in a grocer's shop. In 1995
he was given the Freedom of the City of London and also Tirana in Albania,
received an OBE, and was Knighted in the year 2000. Norman finally retired
from acting at the age of 90 after his health deteriorated and he died on
4th October 2010 at the age of 95.
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From the Dover Express, Thursday, 19 January, 2013. 70p.
NEW PUB TO BEAR NAME OF COMIC
BOSSES of pub firm Wetherspoon have listened to the people of Deal by
naming the new Queen Street public house The "Sir Norman Wisdom."
The pub was originally proposed to be called "5
Bells," with graffiti style signage as pictured below.
But following a number of objections the Watford-based firm
back-tracked and proposed a new name and frontage they felt the people
of Deal would appreciate.
The result is a massive improvement, says chair of the town council's
planning committee Bill Gardner.
He said: “I said in the meeting last week that the first attempt
looked like it had either been caught up in a paintball fight or made by
a class of five-year-olds - only because I didn't want to be harsh on
toddlers.
“But as far as I'm concerned this is a vast improvement. I would
prefer the lettering to be proper use of capital and lower case; then I
would be 100 per cent behind it.”
A date for the opening of the new pub will be given following formal
planning procedures.
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From the Dover Express, Thursday, 21 February, 2013. 70p.
PUB OPENING
The town's new JD Wetherspoon pub will open on March 5, creating 45
jobs.
Named The "Sir Norman Wisdom," after the famous comedian who lived in
Deal, the Queen Street pub was originally to be called the "Five
Bells."
But its arrival could have a detrimental effect on the business of
rival pubs, said head of planning at Deal Town Council Bill Gardner.
“They say 45 jobs because it sounds better, but it will probably
bring between three and five fulltime jobs and the rest part-timers,” he
added.
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From the East Kent Mercury, 7 March, 2013
JD WETHERSPOON PUB IS NAMED AFTER THE TOWN'S MOST
FAMOUS SON
A RIBBON was ceremoniously snipped outside the Sir Norman Wisdom when
the new business opened at 8am on Tuesday after the £1.3 million refit
of the Queen Street building.
The mayor of Deal, Cllr Marlene Burnham, accompanied by Deal carnival
court, cuts the ribbon to declare the Sir Norman Wisdom open on Tuesday
morning; Pictures: Tony Flashman FM2473596
Manager Gavin Dawson was joined by Deal Regatta Queen Lucie Friend,
the two senior princesses, sisters Paula and Chantelle Rowley, and Deal
Mayor Cllr Marlene Burnham.
Left: manager Gavin Dawson.
A steady stream of customers kept the staff busy throughout the first
day at the JD Wetherspoon pub and the manager said: “It has been
amazing, brilliant. The reaction from the customers has been very
positive and everyone has said they will come back another day.”
Cllr Burnham snipped the ribbon to declare the Sir Norman open and
said: “To spend £1.3 million on the building and provide 45 jobs has got
to be good for the town.
“It has been developed to make a really outstanding interior and
exterior, and is really stunning. I liked the use of reclaimed timbers
from the floorboards of the old building and thought the holograms of
Sir Norman around the bar were pretty unique.”
John Trickey, from Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Regatta Association,
was with the senior court at Tuesday's opening and was also invited,
with guests, to the pre-opening at the weekend.
He said: “I think the Sir Norman is absolutely brilliant.
Really exceptional. Sir Norman was a regatta patron, so I was very
pleased to see what an asset to the town the business will be.
“I was also pleased that Wetherspoon will be supporting and
sponsoring our regatta association. It is an extremely generous
thought.”
Originally the business was going to be called The "Five Bells," but
in January public pressure prompted the Watford-based company to rename
it after the comic actor who grew up in Deal. Sir Norman, who died in
2010, often visited the town.
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From the Dover Mercury, 2 May, 2013. 80p.
NEW PUB GIVEN TOP RATING FOR HYGIENE
THE newly-opened "Sir Norman Wisdom" pub in Deal has gained the top
rating for its levels of hygiene in the Scores on the Doors programme.
It was awarded a five star rating by the district council's
inspectors in the local authority's aims to highlight hygiene standards
in pubs, restaurants, take-aways and clubs across the area.
Manager of the Queen Street pub Gavin Dawson said: “I am delighted
that we have gained the top rating and I'm sure our customers will
welcome the news too.
“Standards of hygiene at the pub are of paramount importance.
“All of the staff work hard to ensure that the pub offers its
customers the highest levels of hygiene at all time and we are delighted
that our efforts have been recognised with the five star rating.”
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From the East Kent Mercury, 16 July 2015.
Enjoy a drop of cider with Sir Norman.
Deal residents can cool down with a pint of cider at the "Sir Norman"
Wisdom this week. The pub in Queen Street is half way through a 17-day
cider festival, offering a range of draught ciders from England, Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is offering a selection such as
apple, pear and fruit, including some never previously available in the
pub and others produced exclusively for the festival - all priced at
£2.45 a pint. Manager Amy Kortegas said:- "The Sir Norman Wisdom is
offering a superb selection of ciders, which I am confident appeal to
cider lovers and those enjoying cider for the first time." The
festival ends on Sunday, July 26. |
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From the Dover Mercury, 15 March 2017.
Real ales from around world on sale.
Ten real ales from across the world will be on offer during a 12-day
festival at Wetherspoon pub The Sir Norman Wisdom.
The pub in Queen Street, Deal, will be serving a range of beers from
Italy, Brazil, Holland and the USA, as well as the UK, from next
Wednesday, March 22 until Sunday, April 2.
The special menu includes Back Garden from Bagby Brewing in the USA,
Italian beer Mild the Gap and Mauldons Blackberry Porter - winner of
SIBA East’s Champion Speciality Beer in 2016 - from the UK.
Several unusual flavours will be present in some of the beers,
including blackberries, coffee, lemon and lemon grass.
Manager Ben Winslade said: “We are promising our customers a superb
range of award-winning ales, including some great beers from overseas
and many others from brewers across the UK.
“The festival will be the perfect way for real ale enthusiasts to
enjoy a range of excellent beers over 12 days.”
Customers will be able to sample any three of the real ales in
special third-of-a-pint glasses for the price of a pint.
Tasting notes for all of the beers will be available.
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April 2014 and I have seen that the tenancy is up for sale.
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From the Dover Mercury, Thursday, 26 March, 2020.
By Phil Hayes.
Spoons boss tells staff: ‘Get job at supermarket’
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin says his workers can take jobs with
supermarkets - after the chain’s 850 UK pubs were forced to close.
JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin outside the Sir Norman Wisdom in
Deal.
In a video to his 40,000 staff, he says he can "completely
understand" if they want to work for stores like Tesco, which has
launched a huge recruitment drive.
The government has said it will pay 80% of salaries for workers
at firms affected by the coronavirus such as Wetherspoon - which has
23 pubs across Kent.
But Mr. Martin fears there may be a delay in the wage subsidy
becoming available.
"I know that almost all our trade now has gone to supermarkets,"
he says in the video.
"We’ve had lots of calls from supermarkets. Tesco alone want
20,000 people to join them - that’s half the number of people who
work in our pubs.
"If you’re offered a job at a supermarket, many of you will want
to do that. If you think it’s a good idea, do it. I can completely
understand it."
Mr. Martin says former workers will have first preference if they
want to rejoin Wetherspoon when the pubs eventually welcome back
punters.
He added: "We will obviously completely understand that you don’t
want to wait around for us to reopen - but deeply appreciate your
work. Best of luck." Meanwhile, Wetherspoon staff have written to
bosses demanding full pay. They say the company will only pay them
for the hours they have worked up until March 22.
"From that point on we will not receive any payment from
Wetherspoon until they receive the government grant, which could be
until the end of April," their letter says.
They say Wetherspoon has left its workers without their next pay
date and "with no means of paying for rent, bills or food, and no
warning".
Supermarkets have been recruiting thousands of staff to cope with
the unprecedented surge in demand from shoppers.
Tesco wants to take on 20,000 temporary workers to "help feed the
nation".
Meanwhile, 5,000 new temporary posts are being created at Aldi
and another 2,500 at Lidl. Morrisons is creating 3,500 new jobs.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Jee, 22 November 2023.
Armed police called to Sir Norman Wisdom Wetherspoons pub in Queen
Street, Deal.
Armed police were called to a Wetherspoons pub after a man was
reportedly spotted inside with a gun.
Horrified punters in the Sir Norman Wisdom in Deal called the
emergency services after they saw the man carrying what looked like
a firearm.
Armed officers arrived at the Queen Street pub at about 8.35pm on
Friday, but the man had already left.
Following a search, he was located in nearby Park Avenue and
arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm in a public place.
However, it was soon established the man had actually been in
possession of airsoft guns, having gone to the pub after collecting
them from a repair shop, and had not intended to cause any alarm.
After the man – who was described by a spokesman as being of
“previous good character” – admitted to possessing an imitation
firearm in a public place, the incident was resolved by way of a
community resolution in which he was required to write a letter of
apology to those affected.
The incident has prompted a warning from police, with bosses saying
there has been a spike in the number of imitation firearms officers
have been forced to seize.
Det Ch Ins Patrick Milford, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime
Directorate, said: “Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, we
recovered 75 BB guns and 26 other air weapons in Kent including two
sub-machine guns and 19 rifles.
“While it is an unfortunate fact that criminals will sometimes arm
themselves with imitation firearms in order to commit robberies and
other serious offences, there are also a number of incidents every
year in which members of the public who would otherwise consider
themselves law-abiding find themselves in handcuffs.
“This can be avoided by never taking an imitation firearm out in
public and by transporting it inside a bag or case if you are
planning to play a combat sport at an approved location.
“If you are a parent or carer, please ensure you are aware of what
items your child may be leaving the house with. As well as being
illegal to possess in public, air weapons including BB guns also
have the potential to cause serious injury in the wrong hands.
‘Kent Police is committed to keeping the county’s streets safe and
all reported firearm sightings are treated with the utmost
seriousness.
“While it is fortunately rare that legitimate firearms are seen or
discharged in Kent, we understand how difficult it can be for
members of the public to tell the difference and will do everything
in our power to protect them and prevent any unnecessary concern.’ |
LICENSEE LIST
DAWSON Gavin Mar/2013+
KORTEGAS Amy 2015+
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