From the East Kent Mercury 8 December 2011

Last orders by Steve Glover and Michael Rogers.

The original "Yew Tree" pub was housed in the bungalow at 142 Mill Hill (now a private home). The premises were considered too small once the housing estate in the Mill Hill area was built (its main residents being miners and their families) so, in the early 1930s, a new, much bigger building was erected next door.

A ‘Ladies Thrift Club - Supper and Dance', smoking concerts, Yew Freshwater Angling Club meetings and Whippet Handicaps were all regular events in those early days. The Yew Tree shut on July 26, 2011 the site bought by Tesco.

From the Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and East Kent Mercury, 14 February, 1931.

DEAL TOWN COUNCIL LICENSING SESSIONS

The Town Clerk, (Mr. D. A. Daniels) gave formal notice of an application for provisional order for the removal of the "Yew Tree" license, Mill Hill, to a site adjoining, on behalf of Messrs. Mackeson.

From the Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and East Kent Mercury, 11 March, 1933.

WINE LICENCE

An application was made for a wine licence at the "Yew Tree." Mr. Beal, the licensee, said there was a certain demand for wine at his pub.

From the Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and East Kent Mercury, 8 April, 1933.

The Licensing Justices confirmed the grant of a wine licence in respect of the "Yew Tree."

Messrs. Mackeson & Co were the pub owners and suppliers.

From the Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and East Kent Mercury, 7 July, 1934.

DOG RACING

A whippet handicap was run on the grounds of the Yew Tree Inn, Mill Road, on Saturday, June 30th. The winning dog was Mr. Price's "Coming Home"; 2, Mr. Gilmore's "Nanny Goat"; 3, Mr. Davies' "Miss Greaves."

The next handicap takes place on Saturday, July 14th, distance 180 yards. Entry fee 2s., to Hy. Walton, proprietor. Yew Tree Inn, Mill Road, Deal.

From the Dover Mercury, 25 August, 2011. 70p

HONKY TONK PIANO IN THE YEW TREE'S HEYDAY

FOR 25 years Bernard and Marge creases ran the "Yew Tree" in Mill Hill, Deal, and their pub business was a huge success.

Marge and Bernard Creasey who were at the "Yew Tree" from 1959 to 1984.

It was a popular place and many couples in the town booked their wedding receptions in the upstairs room, with its own separate bar.

Brothers Bernard and Jack Creasey behind the bar at the "Yew Tree" in 1965.

Sadly Bernard died after a heart attack in 1964 and his widow, who now lives in Broadstairs, decided not to carry on the business.

Now the "Yew Tree" is no longer open and is due to be converted into a supermarket.

Its demise has reminded Bernice Bull about her life growing up at the pub with her sister Gillian when their parents were behind the bar.

She said: "I have really happy memories of the "Yew Tree". I remember trying to do my homework when the Betteshanger Welfare Band bad its practice nights, three times a week! There was a folk club, wedding receptions every Saturday and Stan Haines used to play the honky tonk piano in the bar.

"Mum and dad used to have the "Windsor Castle" which was in the High Street and he used to be a miner.

"My sister and I went to St Ethelburga's School, so I was at the convent during the day and then at the pub!"

Bernice said her father thrived on the company of miners, although the pub did have a mix of customers, including ferry workers and also occasional celebrities arriving, including the Bond star Roger Moore.

"We also had a ghost called Mrs Walton who used to turn my bedroom light on and off."

She remember her father's brother Jack helping behind the bar, as well as her father's niece Angela Higgins and Margaret Towe. Mrs Towe, now 85, said: "They were good days and it was such a busy place. I enjoyed my time there. The customers were a nice mixture of people. There was a good darts team and I remember beer, in old money, cost 9d, which is about 4p now.

"A kitchen was put in upstairs, where some of the local clubs had annual dinners. I worked at the "Yew Tree" on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 1961 until Bernard died."

"Yew Tree", dated 1931 in the days when Mackeson Hythe ales were popular. The old "Yew Tree" is seen on the left.

From the Dover Mercury 25 January 2007.

Chef Karl Massey at the Yew Tree, preparing his new menus for pensioners Picture: Phil Houghton pd1112273.

Pensioners can eat out for less than £5.

THE Yew Tree Inn in Deal is giving top priority to pensioners in a new six-day-a-week special lunch offer. For just £4.99 there is an excellent choice of two courses and the promotion starts next week on Thursday, February 1.

Chef Karl Massey believes it is cheaper and less time consuming to have lunch at the Yew Tree, compared to shopping for ingredients, preparing and cooking food and facing piles of washing up at home. He is very proud of the freshness of his dishes which are all homemade and delicious, served in the spacious and light Asparagus Tip conservatory.

The OAP specials are available daily, except Sunday, between noon and 3pm and Kari said it is advisable to book by calling 01304 373189, or by popping into the pub at the top of Mill Hill.

His first courses range from gammon steak to steak and kidney pie, plus the ever-popular fish and chips. Sweets include traditional treacle pudding and cheesecake.

The Yew Tree has a large car park and it is also on a bus route, very useful for the pensioners enjoying free bus travel.

Special menus are not available on Sundays, when the carvery is very popular, with booking advisable.

The Yew Tree in Mill Hill, Deal, has made a name for itself for serving good food and is now proving to be a popular place for live music and quizzes.

Bands playing a variety of sounds, from pop to rock and from jazz to blues, are regularly booked and include Tilt on Saturday, Bloke on February 3, Sultan on February 10, Down and Dirty on February 17 and Hot Rox on February 24.

The next quiz night is at 8.30pm, on February 15. It is £1 to enter, which includes hot nibbles.

From the East Kent Mercury, 11 August, 2011

TESCO TO OPEN STORE IN YEW TREE

Tesco has completed a deal to open a store in the former "Yew Tree" pub at the top of Mill Hill, Deal.

Builders will be converting the building and there will be a car park for customers. The business is expected to open in late November, early December.

A "Yew Tree" pub has been on the site since the 1870 and the existing building was completed in the early 1930s to serve miners in the Kent Coalfield.