|
Broadway
Sheerness
01795 662626
https://www.theroyalhotelsheerness.co.uk/en-GB/
https://whatpub.com/royal-hotel
Above postcard date unknown, care of Trevor Edward site
https://pbase.com |
Above photo, circa 1929, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Royal Hotel and off license, 1970s. Taken from
http://www.pbase.com |
Photo by David Anstiss 2009 from
http://www.flickr.com. |
Above drawing by John Gavaux Ross, drawn 2011, from Trevor Edward site
https://pbase.com |
Above photo, 2014. By kind permission of Trevor Edwards. |
Above sign 2012. |
|
Kentish Gazette, 2 March 1847.
SHEERNESS. Coroner’s Inquest.
An inquest was held on Friday before Robert Hinde, Esq., at the "Royal
Hotel," Sheerness, on the body of James Illiff, aged 24 years.
Deceased belonged to the barge, Fanny, of Rochester, and was knocked
overboard by the mainsail, near the Nore, on the morning
of the 25th December last, whilst on the homeward passage from London:—
these facts were deposed to by the master of the
barge. Five men, labourers, deposed to finding the body on the morning
of the 18th ult., on the "flat," near the "Royal Hotel." The
jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
|
|
Sheerness Guardian 11 June 1859.
IMPORTANT AND EXTENSIVE SALE OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
And other Valuable Property, forming the entire contents of that Old
Established, Well Known, and First Class Inn, THE "ROYAL HOTEL,"
BANKS' TOWN, SHEERNESS.
TO HOTEL KEEPERS A OTHERS.
MR. THOMAS STUTELY, has the honour of announcing that he has
received instructions to SELL BY AUCTION, the whole of the Valuable
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, Fixtures Trading Utensils, &c., the Property of
Mr. J. T. Smithson, (for the last 24 years the proprietor of the
above Hotel.) and which must he peremptorily disposed of, without
reserve in consequence of the expiration of Mr. Smithson's lease of
these extensive premises and his being required to quit the same on
or before the 24th instant.
THE SALE will commence on Saturday June 18th. and will be continued
on Monday the 20th, on Tuesday, the 21st, and Wednesday, the 22nd.
In addition to a first class and substantial assortment of Genuine
Household Furniture, the sale will Include Beds and Bedding, Plate,
Linen, China, Glass and Fixtures, together with an excellent stock
of Spirits, and Wines of the choicest vintages. Slate Dillard Table,
(by Thurston), also an Omnibus, a Brougham, and other Carriages,
besides Horses, Ponies and Cows, Double and Single Harness, Stable
and Garden utensils. Green House plants, Frames, &c., and other
valuable articles too numerous to be mentioned, but the particulars
of which will be given in the CATALOGUES, which may be had two days
prior to the sale at the "Sun Hotel," Chatham; "New Inn," Maidstone;
"Bull Inn," Sittingbourne; "Ship Inn," Faversham; "Saracen's Head,"
Canterbury; "Prince of Orange," Gravesend; "Ship inn," Southend;
Messrs. Chambers and Ellwood, Wine and Spirit Merchants, 29 Gresham
Street, London; "Prospect Hotel," Margate; "Victoria Hotel," Dover;
Mr. J. T. Smithson, "Royal Hotel," Banks' Town; and at the office of
the Auctioneer, Hope Street, Mile Town, Sheerness.
|
|
From the Kentish Chronicle 10, December 1859.
SITTINGBOURNE. A SWINDLER.
Maria O'Niel was charged before J. D. Dyke, Esq., on Tuesday, with
obtaining four glasses of brandy and a half pint of rum from Mr. J.
Newton, of the "Royal Hotel," Sheerness, by false pretences. It appeared
from the evidence that the prisoner waited upon Mr. Craven, solicitor,
and stated the Catholic priest had recommended her to him, as her father
was recently dead. She instructed him to sell out £1,400, in the three
per cent. Consols, and obtain a more remunerative investment, and also
procured a recommendation from him to Mr. Newton to fetch her luggage
from the pier, which she stated would arrive the next day, Mr. Craven
gave her his card, which she took to Mr. Newton, and stated that Mr.
Craven wished him to supply her with whatever she wanted. Mr Newton,
having seen her with Mr. Craven, supplied the liquors; his suspicion
being afterwards aroused, the matter was put into the hands of Sergeant
Ovenden, who at once recognised her as being a common impostor, who had
been about Sheerness for two months. She was committed for trial.
|
|
South Eastern Gazette,10 January, 1860.
EAST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.
On Tuesday last these Sessions were held at the Session House, St.
Augustine’s, Canterbury, under the chairmanship of J. B. Wildman,
Esq.
Obtaining Goods by False Pretences.
Maria O'Neil was indicted for having obtained, by false pretences,
four glasses of brandy and half-a-pint of rum, the property of John
Newton, at Minster, Sheppy, on the 25th November. Mr. Russell
appeared for the prosecution; the prisoner was undefended.
Prosecutor deposed that he kept the "Royal Hotel," at Sheerness. On
the 25th November the prisoner went to his house with Mr. Craven, a
solicitor. Mr. Craven said that the prisoner wanted some person to
fetch some valuable goods that were coming by the steamboat. Witness
was then directed to attend the quarter past one o'clock boat, and
take the goods to Mr. Craven. The prisoner said the goods were to be
taken to Mr. Craven's, as he would have charge of all her property.
No luggage came by the boat. About half an hour afterwards, the
prisoner went back to witness, and had some rum and water, which she
paid for. After the boat was in, prisoner went to him again, and
said she had been and seen a solicitor, and that he told her that
there might have been a delay, but her luggage would arrive at a
quarter past 6, when witness was to attend again at the boat. Before
the boat came in, prisoner went to witness, with another woman, and
had some brandy and water, but it was not paid for. She then said
she had £20 coming in with the goods. No luggage came in by the boat
that evening. The prisoner went to witness again, and said that the
luggage would be there by the 1/4-past 1 boat the following day. She
then had two fourpenny worths of rum, but did not pay for it. She
then asked witness to lend her 2s. 6d., but he refused, referring
her to her solicitor. She then went away, but came back and said she
had been to her Solicitor, and that he (the solicitor) had told her
that witness was to let her have any refreshments she required, and
he would pay for it. She then produced a card with Mr. Craven’s name
upon it, and witness said he would let her have what she wanted, and
she then had a shilling’s worth of hot brandy. She afterwards wanted
a half-pint of brandy to take away with her, and he let her have it.
The next day witness gave the prisoner into custody.
By the prisoner:— She told him that Mr. Craven would for the
refreshments.
Mr. Craven, solicitor at Sheerness, deposed that the prisoner went
to him on the day in question, and represented that she had had
£1,400 left her by her father, and wished him to invest it at higher
interest. She also said she had some valuable luggage, and she
wanted some one to get it from the pier. Witness then conducted her
to Mr. Newton (the last witness). In the evening of the same day she
called on witness again, and asked him for his card as she might
forget the address. He gave her his card and she asked him to lend
her some money, but he refused. He did not authorise her to get
refreshments from Mr. Newton.
P.C. Ovenden, K.C.C., deposed that he apprehended the prisoner at
Sheerness, on the 26th November. He told her the charge, and she
said her solicitor would pay for the articles she had had of Mr.
Newton.
Prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to two months’
imprisonment.
|
|
Sheerness Guardian, 14 January, 1860.
EAST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.
The following cases of local interest, have just been heard at the
above Sessions:—
Obtaining Goods by False Pretences.
Maria O'Neil was indicted for having obtained, by false pretences,
four glasses of brandy and half-a-pint of rum, the property of John
Newton, at Sheerness, on the 25th November. Mr. Russell appeared for
the prosecution; the prisoner was undefended.
Prosecutor deposed that he kept the "Royal Hotel," at
Sheerness. On
the 25th November the prisoner went to his house with Mr. Craven, a
solicitor. Mr. Craven said that the prisoner wanted some person to
fetch some valuable goods that were coming by the steamboat. Witness
was then directed to attend the quarter past one o'clock boat, and
take the goods to Mr. Craven. The prisoner said the goods were to he
taken to Mr. Craven's, as he would have charge of all her property.
No luggage came by the boat.
About half an hour afterwards the prisoner went back to witness, and
had some rum and water, which she paid for. Alter the boat was in,
prisoner went to him again, and said she had been and seen a
solicitor, and that he told her that there might have been a delay,
but her luggage would arrive at a quarter past five, when witness
was to attend again at the boat.
Before the boat came in, prisoner went to witness, with another
woman, and had some brandy and water, but it was not paid for.
She then said she had £20 coming in with the goods. No luggage came
in by the boat that evening. the prisoner went to witness again, and
said that the luggage would be there by the quarter past one boat
the following day. She then had two four-penny-worths of rum, but did
not pay for it. She then asked witness to lend her 2s 6d, but he
refused, referring her to her solicitor. She then went away, but
came back and said she had been to her solicitor, and that he (the
solicitor) had told her that witness was to let her have any
refreshments she required, and he would pay for it. She then
produced a card with Mr. Craven's name upon it, and witness said he
would let her have what she wanted, and she then had a shillings
worth of hot brandy. She afterwards wanted a half-pint of brandy to
take away with her, and he let her have it. The next day witness
gave the prisoner into custody.
By the prisoner:— She told him Mr. Craven would pay for the
refreshments.
Mr. Craven, solicitor at Sheerness, deposed that the prisoner went
to him on the day in question, and represented that she had had
£1,400 left her by her father, and wished him to invest it at higher
interest. She also said she had some valuable luggage, and she
wanted some one to get it from the pier. Witness then conducted her
to Mr. Newton (the last witness). In the evening of the same day she
called on witness again, and asked him for his card as she might
forget the address. He gave her his card and she asked him to lend
her some money, but he refused. He did not authorise her to get
refreshments from Mr. Newton.
P.C. Ovenden, K.C.C, deposed that he apprehended the prisoner at
Sheerness, on the 26th November. He told her the charge, and she
said her solicitor would pay for the articles she had had of Mr.
Newton.
Prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to two months’
imprisonment.
|
|
Sheerness Guardian, 14 July, 1860.
POLICE CASES.
Before the Rev. J. Poore, D. D., Monday 9th July, 1860.
William Bran, a rough looking lad, who said he could neither read
nor write, was charged with damaging a Tamarisk Tree, at the "Royal
Hotel" Gardens, on Sunday evening, the 8th inst, at Sheerness.
Mr. Newton, the proprietor said that depredations of this kind were
very frequent in his garden.
Fined 10s and costs.
|
|
From Kentish Gazette 27 January 1863.
SHEERNESS. - ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.
On Tuesday a young lady was taking
a walk on the sea wall opposite the "Royal Hotel," when the high wind
which prevailed acted with such force on the extended skirts of her
dress as to blow her into the sea. Fortunately she was sustained in the
water by her crinoline until she was rescued from her perilous position. |
|
Kentish Gazette, 1 August 1854.
BIRTH.
Smithson:- On the 21st ult., at the "Royal Hotel," Banks Town,
Sheerness, the wife of Mr. John Thomas Smithson, of a son still
born.
|
|
Kentish Gazette, 1 August 1854.
DEATH.
Smithson:- July 24th, Mrs. Smithson, wife of Mr. J. T. Smithson,
landlord of the "Royal Hotel," Mile Town, Sheerness.
|
|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Megan Carr, 30 January 2020.
Brexit Day celebrations in Kent.
After three long years of Brexit, the UK will finally be leaving the
European Union tomorrow.
While it's not the outcome everyone wanted, for some it is an occasion
worth celebrating. So, whether you rooted leave from the start or are
just happy it's all over, here's where you can mark the historic day.
In Sheerness, The Royal Hotel, in Broadway, is hosting a karaoke and
disco to celebrate Brexit, starting at 9pm.
|
|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 27 January 2020.
Secret Drinker at the Royal Hotel, The Broadway, Sheerness.
“The beer is not on, it hasn’t been on all week, if you want beer then
you’re better off going to Wetherspoons round the corner”.
It wasn’t quite the welcome I was expecting, but I decided not to write
off the grand sounding Royal Hotel in Sheerness at the first hurdle.
After all, I’m not adverse to a decent lager so I chose instead a pint
of Birra Moretti – that, at least, is what it said on the tap. I’ve no
idea what Gill actually served me before she went back to counting the
knives and forks, all I can say is that it was wet and mildly fizzy. I
also had a packet of crisps which, despite being only just out of date,
somehow matched the quality of the lager as they were rubbery and
tasteless.
I began to wonder if an early exit and an escape route to Spoons might
not be the best bet.
There was a hobbyhorse lying against the side of the fridge next to the
fruit machine so at least I’d have had transport and company.
But I’m made of sterner stuff so sought conversation elsewhere. There
were two fellas sat at the bar - one was busy conducting business and
the other, latterly, was parenting.
Against my better judgement, but determined still not to write it off, I
ordered a tuna and sweetcorn ciabatta for £3.50, or at least that’s what
it said on the menu, at the bar the price was £3.70. Ever heard the
saying ‘you get what you pay for’? I’ll explain later.
Whilst waiting for the food I was entertained by scruffy guy number one
at the bar. He was negotiating the sale of parts to plumb in a
dishwasher and it wasn’t going down well, certainly not as well as the
pints of lager. To be fair every time he swore at the top of his voice
he apologised to the world in general. At one point he was saying sorry
even before he’d effed and jeffed. Finally, pushing the paperwork aside,
he started boasting how long he could make a tub of white emulsion last.
At this point, putting his pint down, scruffy guy number two got up and,
just as I thought he was about to play the fruitie, reached into a
pushchair and pulled out a baby. I thought it had been rammed under the
jukebox and pushed up against the fruit machine for storage, and had no
idea it contained a child.
But, with food imminent and feeling the need to wash my hands I headed
away from the new crèche in search of the gents. I found them in a dark
corner of the pub down an old wooden step and, due to the lack of a
working bulb, felt for the door. Inside the toilets were lit, though it
might have been preferable if they weren’t. I’ll spare you the worst
grisly details, but above the urinals it looked as if customers have
taken out their frustrations on the plastic walls.
The plastic walls in the gents have received a good deal of unwanted
attention which has left them with a multitude of marks and holes.
Back in the bar the ‘food’ was arriving - the bread was tepid and the
tuna cold. Sadly the bread cooled completely within two minutes and it
was blatantly obvious it had been microwaved to hide just how stale it
was. As soon as it was cold it went rock hard to the point teeth
couldn’t penetrate it. It is, without doubt, the most inedible thing I
have ever been served on any continent of the world.
So, are there any redeeming features?
The dartboard looks as if it hasn’t been touched for ages, there are two
fruit machines, a quiz machine, a pool table a jukebox and picture of a
train that is, inexplicably, screwed onto the wall upside down.
Scruff #1 was apologising for screaming “£35 for a ****ing drill bit”,
tabs are not available in the bar or restaurant and, most paradoxically,
there’s a sign declaring: ‘Enter as strangers, leave as friends’.
A third customer now entered the fray and half a lager was pulled and
ready before the old lady in a grey bobble hat had even got to the bar.
Barmaid Gill then discussed a whole variety of ailments and they
competed to see who was the sickest before the bobble hat parked her
shopping trolley and took a side seat.
I think the only positive I saw was the fact that the kid taken from the
pushchair seemed a remarkably happy young chap.
DECOR ★
DRINK ★
PRICE ★ ★ ★
ATMOSPHERE ★
STAFF ★ ★
|
|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 6 April 2020.
Secret Drinker looks back at his 10 worst pubs across Kent.
It’s almost a year since I landed the best job in the world and I’ve
been travelling around Kent ever since discovering the very best, and
worst, pubs right around the county.
Fortunately the majority of boozers I’ve been lucky enough to visit have
been great, but some, sadly, have been found wanting.
I can only ever report exactly what I find at a given moment in time and
I realise a fly-on-the-wall review can’t possibly take into account
everything going on in a pub. - and many of these pubs may well have
improved since my visit.
But, I was tasked with discovering the good, the bad and the ugly – and,
in my humble opinion on the day, these are the 10 worst boozers I’ve
visited...
3. If the first thing the barmaid tells you is ‘you’d be better off
getting a drink round the corner’ it’s obviously not a great start. Add
in a totally inedible, rock hard ciabatta and you’ll realise why the
Royal Hotel, Sheerness is at No.3. The effing and blinding at the bar
was relentless, despite the constant apologies. A sign over the bar
which reads ‘Enter as strangers, leave as friends’ is the most misplaced
statement ever. And, the locals have clearly taken their frustrations
out on the plastic walls in the gents. Please tell me the Royal Hotel
was grander in years gone by.
Grand sounding, sadly I think the best days for the Royal Hotel in
Sheerness are behind it.
|
LICENSEE LIST
SMITHSON John Thomas 1840-58+ (also Wine & Spirit Merchant)
NEWTON J Mr 1859+
Uninhabited 1861
ROWLSTONE William Henry 1862+
SWADEN G 1867+
COOKE Emma Miss 1874+
HANCOCK John 1881+ (messman in R.N. age 45 in 1881 )
BOWER Francis & Son 1891+ (Wine & Spirit Merchant
)
EAGLE/INGLETON Ernest George to May/1902
MILES James John Joshua May/1902+
MILES & Son 1918+
PARKER A P & Sons 1933-38+
COPE Harry to Mar/1952
ROOFF Norman percy Mar/1952+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/RoyalHotel.shtml
Census
Maidstone
and Kentish Journal
East Kent Gazette
|
