Cricketers

From http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk

The "Cricketers" was built as a part of the housing development in this area in the 1920s. It moved here from Park Place (Marlborough Road) in 1929. I don't really remember any of the licensees as I was only a child when my grandparents lived opposite it, but I do seem to remember a Romanian lady (Elena?) running it in the 1990s.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Jenni Horn, 20 February 2017.

The Cricketers in Gillingham being renovated by Punch as Tony Healy takes over.

A popular pub is hoping to bowl customers over with its new look when it reopens next month following a £250,000 facelift.

The Cricketers in Gillingham is being renovated by national pub operator Punch and will be run by entrepreneur Tony Healy.

The pub in Sturdee Avenue, a favourite for home fans on Gilllingham match days, will continue to host live music and major big screen sports fixtures.

The Cricketers in Gillingham.

Tony and his team are introducing a new menu with a selection of reasonably priced traditional pub dishes, including an “amazing” Sunday roast.

Tony has 16 years’ experience in the licensed trade. Since moving to England from Ireland in 2001, he has built up a small portfolio of seven pubs around the London and the south east.

He said: “The Cricketers has a great feeling about it. It is a busy pub with friendly staff and I’m delighted that most of the team are staying on to work with me.”

He added: “The Gillingham fans will of course still be welcome, there is a home game the first weekend we are open.”

The pub is currently shut while renovations are being carried out. When it reopens on Wednesday, March 8, it will create four new jobs.

Openings manager for Punch, Janne Sedgwick, said: “This is an extensive refurbishment but we are being careful to keep all the character that the regular customers love.”

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Matt Leclere, 10 February 2020.

Police close Sturdee Avenue in Gillingham after girl, 12, seriously injured.

A girl is in a serious condition in hospital after a collision with a car.

Police closed Sturdee Avenue in Gillingham and an air ambulance called after the 12-year-old was injured this morning.

Officers were called to the road following an incident involving the youngster and a black Ford Fiesta this morning and she's now in a "serious but stable" condition.

A child was taken to hospital following the incident during the school run shortly before 8.30am.

She has been airlifted to hospital in London after suffering head injuries, a spokesman for the ambulance service said.

Police confirmed they are investigating a road traffic collision involving a car and the girl, who was walking at the time.

The road reopened at about 11.30am after closing to allow emergency services to work at the scene.

Several emergency service vehicles, including police and ambulances, arrived at the Robert Napier School where the air ambulance helicopter landed.

The road was closed opposite The Cricketers pub and the Premier shop at the junction with Toronto Road.

A pub staff member said he saw the road was shut just after 8am when he arrived for work.

He said: "It was all cordoned off and forensics are there at the moment looking around.

"The air ambulance landed at the school nearby and there were at least two ambulances up the road."

An ambulance, two paramedic cars were sent to the scene along with the air ambulance.

Police were investigating around the zebra crossing close to the bus stop and the pub on the corner of Toronto Road.

Now, police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Robert Boddy, 28, October 2026.

The Cricketers, Sturdee Avenue, Gillingham, has licence suspended after Kent Police request.

A pub’s licence has been suspended and its landlord stopped from visiting the premises after “a series of incidents” and ongoing concerns over crime and disorder.

The Cricketers in Sturdee Avenue, Gillingham, was the subject of an application for a fast-tracked review by Kent Police’s Superintendent Rob Marsh on October 21.

The Cricketers in Sturdee Avenue, Gillingham, has had its license suspended after Kent Police asked for an urgent review.

The force says there have been a series of incidents over several months, including one after 11pm on October 16, which resulted in a serious injury.

It was seeking interim restrictions until a full review hearing, which is due to take place on November 17.

On October 23, a closed hearing was held by Medway Council’s licensing panel where the police, venue owner Punch Pubs and the landlord Simon Mycock made representations.

They discussed the incidents, the measures the pub had taken, and other background information related to the request.

The panel ultimately decided in favour of the police’s request to suspend the licence until this coming Monday (Nov 2).

Following the hearing, Punch said Mr Mycock, who took over the running of the pub in February, was no longer involved with it.

A spokesperson said: “We take the concerns raised regarding The Cricketers very seriously and have acted swiftly to address them.

“The previous publican has now left, and we are working closely with Kent Police and the licensing authorities as part of the ongoing review process.

“Our priority is to ensure The Cricketers is operated safely and responsibly, and we are taking the necessary steps to achieve that.”

The pub’s licence had enabled it to sell alcohol from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 10am to 1am Thursday to Saturday.

It also permitted live and recorded music 10am to 11pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to midnight Thursday to Saturday and midday to 11pm on Sundays.

In July, the venue applied for extended hours and to use its garden on a more frequent basis.

It said the plans would allow a more gradual stream of people to leave the premises over a longer period, and it wanted to be a community asset.

The proposals were approved at a hearing on August 4.

But now, the licence has been suspended until Monday.

Between then and the full hearing on November 17, it will be allowed to serve alcohol but on a much more limited basis.

It will only be allowed to sell booze and other licensable activities, like selling hot food, from 10am to 10pm, seven days a week.

No regulated entertainment, such as live or recorded music, is to be allowed and no alcohol can be consumed in the garden.

Additionally, Simon Mycock and Edward Mycock are not permitted on the premises.

A meeting is to take place between the pub and local residents on Monday.