From the Dover Express, 2 December, 1998. By JOHN MITCHELL

LANDLORD FEARS FOR BABY GIRL IN SICKENING ATTACK

PUB RAIDERS SPLASH LICENSEE WITH PETROL OR WHITE SPIRIT.

A DOVER pub landlord feared for his sleeping baby daughter after he was attacked in a terrifying raid.

Licensee Michael Tucker's agony began when he answered a knock at the back door of the Wheelwrights Arms at The Linces on the Buckland estate.

A man pushed Michael down on to the stairs and splashed him with a substance, either petrol or white spirit, from a bottle.

He warned Michael, 39, to stay there as two other men ran into the pub, one carrying a pickaxe and a large black holdall.

They broke open two fruit machines while the first man stood over Michael, 39, warning him not to move.

He was content to stay there, effectively blocking the way upstairs to a bedroom where his four-month-old daughter, Gina, was asleep in her cot. No one else was in the building.

After about five minutes, the raiders fled with some £850 from the machines and two tills, plus a bottle of whisky and two jars of cigars.

Michael, secretary of Dover Licensed Victuallers Association, glimpsed their getaway car as it sped off from the back car park.

Then he dashed upstairs to check the baby was well - she was fast asleep - before ringing the police.

An ambulance was called and Michael was treated by paramedics for burns to his leg, hip and shoulder.

Michael refused to so to hospital because he didn't want to leave the baby. He takes tablets for angina problems but didn't suffer an attack during or after the attack.

The raid happened after Michael was cleaning the bar area of the pub shortly after 6.15am on Friday.

His wife Susan and their other child, Michael, two, were in the Republic of Ireland on a family visit.

Michael, who leases the Wheelwrights Arms from brewers Shepherd Neame and has run the pub for six months, has put up a £1,000 reward of his own money for information leading to the conviction of the raiders.

He said: "I wasn't so much concerned about my own safety as for the baby. I just didn't want them to go upstairs, so I stayed where I was, right across the stairs. The last thing I wanted was for them to be near her."

A barmaid contacted his wife and she flew back with their son from Ireland next day.

One offender is 5ft 10in, about 29, of medium build with short, light brown-ginger-blond hair. He had a northern accent and was right-handed. He wore jeans and a grey bomber jacket.

The pickaxe was left at the scene and it is thought it may have been used in a recent burglary. Police want anyone who has had a pick-axe stolen to contact them.

The car was an estate, possibly a Vauxhall, with a sloping back. It was white with a horizontal green stripe across the back, under the window.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police crime desk on 01303 289030 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.

Customers have cheered Michael up since the attack and he has also received support from LVA colleagues.

He said: "Everyone has been marvellous. We'll certainly be staying here - I won't let this deter us.

From the Dover Express, 30 May, 2002.

Good food and drink

IF YOU are looking for a pub with great food, a lively, friendly atmosphere and good old fashioned hospitality, look no further than The Wheelwright Arms in Dover.

Since July 2001 The Wheelwright Arms has been run by Barry Eassom and partner Pam.

I was lucky enough to be invited to try out their great value Wednesday Steak Night for just £5. You get a steak, salad, mushrooms and a more than generous portion of fries. Delicious and great value for money.

Hot food is served daily from noon until 3pm and then again between 7 until 9.30pm.

The menu includes good wholesome English grub, a choice of fine curries, Sunday roasts from just £4.50 and food for children and vegetarians.

As well as a great place to eat, The Wheelwright prides itself on being a community pub. Together with help from the NHS they have started up a club called 'Fat Blokes' held on Monday nights, starting from 11 June. Come and join and get advice on how to beat Heart disease. For those brave few every Tuesday night there will be a circuit training workout at the local Community Centre, supervised by the NHS. Everyone is welcome to join in.

The Wheelwright Arms is open throughout the World Cup and will be serving a full English breakfast for those early games. They will also be joining in with the Jubilee celebrations this weekend and next week (see advertisement for details), with live entertainment and food.

For more details on any of the above call 01304 822947. They look forward to meeting you.

From the Dover Express, 27 February, 2003.

A pub with a view...

IF YOU are looking for a traditional community pub, then you need look no further than The Wheelwrights Arms. Situated in The Linces to the north of Dover, this spacious pub has far reaching views across the valley.

Husband and wife team Barry and Pam Eassom have been licensees of the Shepherd Neame house for 19 months and have already embarked upon a major refurbishment and improvement programme.

Having been in the licensed trade for many years, the couple certainly know what constitutes a good pub - a warm welcome, a good atmosphere, a well kept cellar and excellent food.

Quality home cooked meals are served lunchtimes and evenings. The menu includes such favourites as jacket potatoes with a choice of fillings, scampi and fries served in a basket, sausage and chips and a variety of freshly cut sandwiches.

Every night is steak night, with a sizzling sirloin cooked to order, fries and salad garnish at the very reasonable price of £5. On Sundays, The Wheelwrights Arms offers traditional English roasts at just £4.50. with your choice of delicious dessert for £ 1.95. Of course there is a full range of wines, spirits and soft drinks, fine ales and lagers.

Barry said: "The Wheelwrights Arms attracts all age groups, it is once again a good community pub."

There is a separate games room where darts and pool are played, and which often plays host to live music evenings. The Wheelwrights Arms has ample parking and is open all day from 11 am to 11 pm on Monday to Saturday and noon to 10.30pm on Sunday.

From the Dover Express, 9 January 1948.

THE "WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS"

The opening of the "Wheelwrights Arms" public house on the Buckland Valley Estate, took the form of an informal private cocktail party on Friday evening, when a number of prominent townspeople had an opportunity of looking over the premises and of meeting Mr. and Mrs. F. Howard, the licensees. The house opened t the public on Saturday evening. The licence had been transferred from the war-destroyed "Wheelwrights Arms," in bridge Street.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 February 1953.

Old and New.

The "Wheelwrights' Arms," on Buckland Estate - which was granted a temporary licence three years ago - was given the permanent licence of the derelict "Golden Cross," St. James' Street, at the Adjourned Brewster Sessions, at Dover on Monday. The licence of the "Golden Cross" has been held in suspense since the war.

From the Dover Express, 4 September, 2008.

Pubs: The Wheelwright's in Chaucer Crescent is soon to re-open.

From the Dover Express, 18 March 2010.

"USE US OR LOSE US" LANDLORD PLEADS.

Report by Yamural Zendera

Craig Hopkins and Hayley Bennett.

Despite makeover business at pub is not picking up.

THE leaseholder of Buckland estate's only pub is urging people to use it or lose it.

The Wheelwrights Arms on the Linces was taken on by Craig Hopkins in June last year.

At the time it appeared a dream move for Craig, 24, who gave up work as a roofer to throw himself into his first business.He was joined by girlfriend Hayley Bennett, 23.

But almost a year on, Craig says trade has not picked up as expected.

He said: "My dad had his own pub in the past, so I've been brought up in pubs. He was offered this pub but he's retired now so he didn't really fancy it. I said I would give it a go.

"I'm here until the business hopefully picks up. If it doesn't I will have to come out. It's a case of use it or lose it."

Craig said the pub has been refurbished and new events and nights put on to try and pull in the punters.

He said: "I think it had a bad reputation before, so I've tried to make it a nice friendly atmosphere inside the pub. I have brought in a chef from Canterbury, Khalid Hamed, for curry nights on Mondays and Thursdays. There's a darts team and pool team, and during Easter there will be live bands. We need people to come in and give us a try."

Dover Business Support manager Roger Walkden, who represents the interests of local firms, said he is willing to help Craig turn things around.

He said: "I would certainly encourage him to contact me. There are a range of initiatives and ways I can help to promote the business and encourage people to visit his pub. The fact that it's under new management should help if people had a problem with it before."

The Express has passed on Roger's details to Craig.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 25 August, 2011. 60p

PUB TAKEN ON BY INN CROWD

Cousins become its new owners

Report by Yamurai Zendera

Employees Chris Honey and Georgie MacKenzie with new co-owner Wendy Beharry.

NEW owners have taken over the "Wheelwrights Arms" in Dover.

The freehold on the Buckland estate pub has been bought by cousins Ralph and Wendy Beharry.

They were living in Swansea just three weeks ago but have moved to Dover for a fresh business challenge.

Father of six Ralph, 60, feels there is a big enough market for the pub to thrive, even though the previous owners failed to last a year.

He said: "Both Wendy and I have lots of experience in the industry. We think its a good opportunity. Firstly, we have found that the people are very nice.

"We spoke to the licensing officer, Sieve Alexander, before we bought it. It was a troubled pub, what we found out was that it did not sell brands like Carling and Worthington's and 1664.

"The products it did sell were not very popular, but because we are a freehold pub we are not tied to a brewery, so can stock and sell what the customer wants.

"There's always something in the market for someone who is willing to work hard."

Ralph and Wendy have taken on Chris Honey and Georgie MacKenzie from the "Castle" pub to be in charge of entertainment and food respectively. They also plan to employ two part-time workers.

There are also other reasons for them moving to Dover.

Ralph said: "I really wanted to be closer to Europe. I'm hoping in the next few years to travel around Europe.

"Plus, my niece does a lot of swimming and will be doing a Channel swim on September 23."

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 8 September, 2011. 60p

PUB STAFF'S BARROOM RUMPUS

Police were called to a tussle between the owner of the "Wheelwright Arms" and one of his bar managers on Saturday.

A complaint of assault was made against new owner Ralph Beharry who bought the Linces pub last month, by new bar manager Chris Honey and his partner Georgia MacKenzie at Ham.

CCTV images at the pub showed the fracas but not how it started.

Mr Beharry claimed he was the one who had been attacked and a bruise on the bar manager's torso must have occurred when Mr Honey was holding him in a headlock.

Bar manager Miss MacKezie and Mr Honey told police they had been scratched with car keys by Mr Beharry and that Mr Honey had been punched.

Mr Honey also later claimed he had been bitten.

Miss MacKenzie, 24, the former landlady of the "Castle Inn" in Russell Street, Dover, believed she she was scratched by a set of keys held in Mr Beharry's hand as she waded in to try to separate the two men.

Mr Honey also suffered similar injuries to the left side or his face.

The incident was recorded on the pub's own CCTV cameras.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers had attended the "Wheelwright Arms" following a report of assault but no further action is being taken after the complainant declined to give police more information.

It is believed the row was caused by a dispute over wages.

Neither Miss MacKenzie nor Mr Honey now work at the pub.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 12 January , 2012. 60p

PUB CONVERSION

BUCKLAND: A scheme is to be considered by district council planners to convert The "Wheelwright's Arms" public house on Buckland Estate into four two-bedroom flats. A planning application for the change has been submitted by Ms W Beharry of The Linces. The "Wheelwrights" got its name from a pub with the same name in Dover's Bridge Street acquired in 1946 to provide space for industry.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 8 November, 2012. 65p.

BID FOR PUB TO BECOME FLATS

The former "Wheelwrights Arms" pub in Chaucer Crescent on Buckland Estate could provide 10 studio flats if a scheme submitted to Dover District Council is approved.