From the http://www.kentonline.co.uk By Chloe Holmwood, 13 April, 2017.

Changes made to Talk of the Town's pub licence after double stabbing in Leysdown.

A Sheppey pub has agreed to take steps to reduce disruption following a double stabbing on Saturday.

Two men in their 20s were taken to a hospital in London with serious injuries after a fight broke out at The Talk of the Town, in Leysdown, just after 9pm.

This week, police requested an urgent licencing review for the seafront pub in The Promenade.

The hearing took place in Swale council’s chambers today and the following measures were agreed:

Plastic glasses will be used at the premises after 6pm.

Security staff will be on duty on any evening where there is entertainment scheduled for the day.

Improvements will be made to the pub’s CCTV and record keeping.

The use of pool tables will be limited in the evening.

A second licensing review will take place in early May. This will look into whether any further action is needed.

Outside the Talk of the Town pub, Leysdown.
Inspector Garry Brimson said: "We are pleased with the outcome of the review and that the premises’ supervisor has offered to take immediate steps to ensure that there is no repeat of last weekend’s disorder.

"We were able to work together with the pub and agree with these interim steps, which will begin from Friday.

"We believe these will help to promote public safety and prevent crime and disorder however we will continue to monitor the situation."

Officers are still investigating last week’s double stabbing and anyone with information is asked to call police on 01795 419119, quoting reference 08-1350.

To remain anonymous, contact Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By John Nurden, 19 February 2020.

Talk of the Town pub in Leysdown could become fish and chip shop and arcade.

A popular seafront pub could get a new lease of life as a fish and chip shop and amusement arcade.

Cain’s Amusements, which owns the arcade next to Leysdown’s Talk of the Town on the Isle of Sheppey, has applied to Swale council for a change of use.

The Herne Bay company wants to knock down walls to extend its Playtime arcade into the former public house.

Plans include a downstairs fish and chip restaurant and takeaway. It is also seeking to convert the rooms upstairs into three self-contained flats.

Director David Cain said: “Sheppey is calling out for a seafood restaurant on the seafront. We also wanted to save the Talk of the Town from falling into disrepair because it is such an iconic building. This ticks all the boxes.”

The company, which already employs eight people in Leysdown, says the venture will create an additional 10 full-time and two part-time jobs. There will be new red bi-fold doors and pewter-coloured cladding along the front.

Cains bought the eight-bedroom property in September before it was due to be auctioned. It had a guide price of £350,000. The company admitted it first thought of buying it as long ago as 2009.

Former owner Chris Prime and his wife Jackie gave up running the live-music pub in October 2018 after new regulations were enforced by the police. A tenant took over for a while but since then it has been empty.

Mr Prime said: “I’m just glad to see the back of it. We were there for 29 years. I am 69 so it is time to retire. I thought Cains might extend their arcade but a fish and chip shop is all news to me."

He added: “It was always the customers who made the pub. Many of them have switched to the Warden Bay.”

Leysdown is now left with only one pub, the "Rose and Crown." "Merlins" leisure centre closed a year ago.

Cains, which also has an arcade in Sheerness, says its proposals are in line with the Swale Local Plan to “value tourism and culture to support regeneration.”