Updates

29th November, 2014: Folkestone Herald Reports for 1960, 1961 and 1962 Added

Star and Garter 1960s

Folkestone Herald 23-1-1960

Notice

To: The Clerk to the Rating Authority for the Borough of Folkestone.

The Chief Constable of Kent,

The Clerk to the Justices for the Borough of Folke­stone.

And to all whom it may concern

I, Dorothy Mabel Binfield, of the “Star and Garter”, Harvey Street, Folkestone, Kent, Licensed Victualler, being the holder of a licence to sell by retail Beer and Wine for consumption on or off the premises known as the “Star and Garter”, in the Borough of Folkestone aforesaid, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting for the said Borough, to be held at the Town Hall in the said Borough, on Wednesday, the 10^th day of February, 1960, at 11 a.m., for the grant to me of a Justices` Licence authorising me to apply for and hold an Excise Licence to sell by retail any intoxicating liquor for consumption on or off the premises known as the “Star and Garter”, in the Borough of Folkestone aforesaid, of which said premises Fremlins Ltd. are the owners and of whom I rent them.

Given under my hand this 18^th day of January, 1960.

(Sgd.) Dorothy M. Binfield.

Folkestone Herald 13-2-1960

Annual Licensing Sessions

Licences to sell spirits, in addition to beer and wine, were granted to the Star and Garter, Harvey Street, and the Prince of Wales, Guildhall Street.

Mr. Norman Franks, making the application on behalf of Mrs. D.M. Binfield, of the Star and Garter, said the licence had been in her family for the past 65 years.

Folkestone Herald 10-2-1962

Local News

It was not the usual Monday night. Chris and Dorrie were serving drinks, and the usual game of darts was in pro­gress. The Star and Garter, Har­vey Street, Folkestone, has a proud record for darts, and trophies line the walls, but players and regulars were unusually subdued.

Mr. and Mrs. Binfield., Chris and Dorrie, were retiring. Dorrie, who was born in that same building 61 years ago, and Chris, have “run the local ” for nearly 22 years. Their retirement marks the end of a period of 68-69 years during which she inn has been run by a member of Dorrie’s family. The tradition goes still further back; before her father, Mr. Arthur, became landlord of the Star in about 1893, his people had tenanted the Princess Royal, down by the harbour. On the death of Mr. Arthur in 1911 Dorrie’s mother kept the Star going. Dorrie became the official licensee in 1943, but had been helping to run the, place since her father’s death. She and Chris, himself a Folkestone man, married in 1940 on a special licence in order that the house could stay open.

Best suits were in evidence as the regulars, many of whom had known Dorrie for 40 years, and some who even remembered her father, packed the bar on Monday to bid “au revoir”. But certainly not “farewell”, because Dorrie and Chris will no doubt make many visits to their old quarters. They are moving only to nearby Margaret Street.

It was “service as usual’’ for this popular couple, who pulled the familiar pumps for drinks for their friends, until 9 o’clock, when Mr. T. Anderson, Chair­man of the Star and Garter Darts Club, made a presenta­tion. “I am sure everybody feels as sad as me that Chris and Dorrie are retiring, but I am saying “cheerio”, not “goodbye”, as we will be seeing them again this side of the bar”, Mr. Anderson said. He then presented Dorrie with an engraved wristlet watch, and Chris with a pocket watch, on behalf of all their friends.

Chris’s reply to the cries for “Speech” was that he had a cold, but Dorrie, holding a bouquet given by one of their many friends, smiling tearfully, replied on behalf of both of them. “We will both see you all, as no doubt we will be dropping in. Thank you all, very much”, she said.

Refreshments were served, and Chris and Dorrie carried on serving.

 

 

Updates

22nd November, 2014: Folkestone Herald Reports for 1958 and 1959 Added

Railway Hotel 1920s -

Folkestone Herald 3-4-1926

Tuesday, March 30^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Alderman R.G. Wood, Mr. W. Hollands, and Col. P. Broome-Giles.

An application was made by Mr. F.E. Kent, of the Railway Hotel, Coolinge Lane, for an occasional licence to sell intoxicating liquor on the Folkestone Cricket Ground on April 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, and 6^th for the Hockey Festival.

The Magistrates granted a licence for Good Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on the other days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Folkestone Herald 14-11-1959

Local News

The licence of The Railway Hotel, Coolinge Lane, was transferred from Mr. H. Johnson to Mr. J.G. Barkus, of Penge.

 

Eagle 1950s

Folkestone Herald 28-3-1953

Local News

Protection order made by Folkestone Magistrates on Tuesday: Albert George Miller, of 10, Hasborough Road, Folkestone, in respect of the Eagle Tavern, Guildhall Street.

Folkestone Herald 14-11-1959

Local News

The licence of The Eagle Tavern, Guildhall Street, was transferred from Mr. Miller to Mr. D.A. Martin.

 

True Briton (1) 1950s

Photo from Folkestone Herald

Folkestone Herald 3-10-1953

Local News

The True Briton was an East Indiaman, a fine sail­ing ship of the old tradition, sleek of line, fast, and with a spread of canvas that rejoiced the hearts of mariners. She was built in 1790 at Deptford, an aristocrat of the sea and a worthy addition to the gallant ships who plied their trade and maintained Britain’s im­mense commerce between this country and the rich and pro­ductive land of India. Her life was not long. She completed seven voyages; on her eighth journey, outward bound, she dis­appeared with all hands.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, was ever heard of her again. We know what she looked like, for she followed the design of vessels specially built for the India trade; you will see a picture of her if you look at the sign, the new sign, over the entrance to a small hotel in Harbour Street, Folkestone. The True Briton hotel was named after the True Briton ship more than 150 years ago, and it has always been associated with seafaring men and the sea. Why what was then a small inn among Folkestone’s fishing folk should be named after an East Indiaman is not known and probably nobody now will ever know, but it happened fairly frequently that newly built inns were named after fine ships that for one reason or another had attracted popular admira­tion.

The inn was new in 1802, when Samuel Golder traded under the sign of the True Briton; it is almost certainly among the oldest licensed premises in the area, for when it was built Folkestone had no harbour, there were no build­ings in the immediate vicinity at all, and the town itself was little more than a fishing village. The valuation of the first True Briton inn was only 4/10! There is little doubt that its customers were mainly fisher-folk and seafarers of one kind or another. The inn was re­built at some time in the 19th century, the thoroughfare then being known as Victoria Ter­race. The new building was considerably larger than the old, but there is reason to believe that towards the end of the century it was enlarged still further, no doubt to meet in­creased custom as Folkestone expanded as a holiday resort.

About this time it became a hotel, or at least part became a hotel and the remainder an inn. At one period two separate rates were levied in respect of each of the sections. The tiled front of the hotel, which gives it a certain distinctive­ness, was constructed in 1904. So it continued, in peace and war, until 1940. Came Dunkirk, the evacuation of the British Army, the exodus of Folke­stone’s civilian population, the closure of many of the town’s businesses. The True Briton, like many licensed premises in the town, suffered severely from loss of business, and finally the licensee was forced to close. He moved to another part of the town. On March 2^nd, 1943, a German shell hit the hotel - the nosecap of the missile was found in the bar parlour later. The whole of the back of the building was wrecked, only the public bar remained. If anyone had been living in the True Briton on that day they would almost certainly been killed. The years of war passed, Peace came again, and with it the return of Folkestone’s residents. In May, 1946, the True Briton, grievously damaged, re-opened its doors. The great gaping holes were sealed and what was left of the premises made usable. So the place remained until about six months ago, when complete re­construction of the hotel from roof to cellar was undertaken. It is now a modern, well-designed hotel of modest pro­portions, with excellent layout of the bar serveries and spacious lounge. The True Briton has taken on a new lease of life.

Among licensees of the True Briton at least one is remem­bered by the older people in the Fishmarket area - Miss Pearson. She had the hotel at the turn of the century and was some­thing of a character. She was part owner of schooners which sailed to and from Folkestone, the masters and crews of which used her house. The custom was for the crews to have their beer “put on the slate” for deduction from their wages, which were paid to them at the True Briton. There was a small room just off the public bar always called “The Cap­tain’s Room”, where Miss Pear­son and the masters of ships carried out their business.

The present licensee, Mr. D. A. (“Dave”) Martin, took over the hotel 27 years ago. He has been “in the trade” all his life. At the age of 25 he became licensee of the Red Lion, Covent Garden, and held the house for four years. He was a stage dancer at one time, ap­pearing in vaudeville acts. He made friends with many variety artistes whose names have since become famous, including Max Miller, who never fails to visit the True Briton when he is performing in Folkestone. Dur­ing the last war Mr. Martin was a Government Inspector at Till­ing Stevens, Maidstone.

Not only has the True Briton always been a sea­farers' house, it has had a strong association with sport. Channel swimmers meet there, and many well-known boxers have been among its customers. Larry Gains and Tancy Lee, both of whom were wartime P.T. instructors at Shorncliffe, were frequent visitors to the hotel, as also at other times were Dick Smith, Johnny Summers and others. An amateur boxer, the sixth Duke of Wellington (then the Earl of Mornington) often met his trainer, Shoeing Smith Davis, at the True Briton. Two members of the True Briton team were winner and runner-up of the News of the World individual darts champions for Folkestone and Dover in 1937.

Yesterday evening there was a housewarming at the hotel, when many friends and invited guests wished it a renewed lease of life and prosperity, and its licensee many years of success.

Folkestone Herald 14-11-1959

Local News

The licence of the True Briton, Harbour Street, was transferred from Mr. D.A. Martin to Mr. N.E. Thomsett, formerly of The Locomotive Inn, Ashford, at Folkestone Transfer Sessions on Wednes­day.