From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 26 Feb, 1937.

Licensing.

The licence of "The Bull" Inn, Eastry, was granted an occasional licence to sell in a marquee at Knowlton, on March 13th for a race meeting of the West Street Hounds.

From the Dover Express, Thursday 13 January 2011.

I'LL BRING PUB BACK TO TRADITIONAL WAYS

VOW OF NEW LANDLORD AS HE TAKES ON VILLAGE INN

Traditional: New landlord of the "Bull" Paul McMullan, right, with bar manager Karl Wooding.

THE "BULL" in Eastry has been taken over by a new owner, who plans to return the historic boozer into a traditional village pub.

The 500 year old tavern on the High Street initially provided a resting point for coaches, horses and travellers on their way from Canterbury to the coast.

But from being one of the busiest and most profitable pubs in east Kent, The "Bull" has declined like so many others.

New landlord Paul McMllllan, who also owns The "Castle Inn" in Dover and was featured in the Deal and Sandwlch Express last week when he picked up actor Hugh Grant on the way to stock "The Bull," has been set the task of organically growing the business back to the way it was.]

He said: "Everybody says the way forward for pubs is turning them into flash restaurants, but "The Bull" is a prime example of just how wrong that was.

HUB OF VILLAGE

"For years the people were happy to pop in for a pint and a chat and the place was the hub of social life In the village. There was a pool team, a soccer team and even a ladies darts team and business was really thriving even in difficult economic times.

"However, a few years ago the pool table was replaced by a dining area and a fancy menu which completely destroyed the place, not only the ambiance but the turnover too.

"Without giving away the exact figures, beer consumption, which is the only thing the brewery really cares about, fell by a massive 50 per cent and the future of the pub was really in jeopardy."

Punch Taverns, Britain's biggest pub chain which still owns the freehold, confirmed they hired Mr McMullan because of his success at turning round "The Castle Inn" by going back to basics.

South East Manager of Punch Stuart Brown said: "It is true there are many pubs in Britain which are no longer viable as people's habits change but "The Bull" was not one of them and we hope by going back to basics we can organically grow the business

"Serving food in pubs can work but in this case where so many of the local drinkers felt excluded it didn't and the pub went into decline.

BAR MANAGER

Mr McMullan has shifted his bar manager Kart Wooding at "The Castle lnn" over to "The BulI" as he is originally from the village and is affectionately known locally as "Pud."

Mr Wooding said: "I was born in Eastry and spent my teenage years in "The Bull" and it is fantastic to have the chance to bring it back to life. The old landlord banned most of the regulars to turn it into a posh restaurant and what a mistake that was. The first thing I am going to do is throw all his tables and chairs away, bring back the pool table, Live Sports TV and invite them all back again.

"In six months we get the Open Golf just down the road at Royal St Georges, sandwich, and I have two five-star letting rooms where Sam Torrance stayed the last time, so the future for "The Bull" for me is looking really bright."

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 3 March, 2011. 60p

LANDLORD ROW

A Dover businessman has come under fire for rowdy drum and bass nights at his Eastry pub and could now face the prospect of losing his licence review.

Villagers are accusing landlord Paul McMullan, who also runs the "Castle Inn," of creating antisocial behaviour.

Residents demand a review of inn's licence

Sound and fury over 'noisy' pub

Report by Yamurai Zendera

A DOVER businessman has come under fire for rowdy drum and bass nights at his Eastry pub.

Landlord Paul McMullan could face the prospect of licence review after a group or villagers accused him of playing loud music throughout the night.

They say their lives have been made a misery for the past couple of months by the antisocial behaviour of The "Bull's" punters.

Blaring

Loud music blaring through the night seven days a week, shouting and swearing and vehicles revving their engines are just some of the reasons the residents have cited as to why they are now demanding a licence review.

Mr McMullan, who applied for a topless lap-dancing licence at his other pub in Dover, the "Castle Inn," says he has done nothing wrong.

He said: "If it was a rock night there wouldn't have been such a furore. No underage people were let in and there were was no drug taking."

The latest furore is a far cry from the promise the former tabloid newspaper executive made when he first took over this year. Mr McMullan said he wanted to turn the "Bull" into a traditional pub.

Residents say they have been unimpressed with the response to the police and district council to their concerns and that talks with Mr McMullan have proved fruitless.

A letter of complaint signed by the 13 residents has been sent to among others - the police, the district council, MP Charlie Elphicke and Mr McMullan himself.

It reads: "We feel that the activities of the "Bull" are completely unacceptable in a residential, family environment.

"As you will be aware this is not the first time that residents have had problems caused by the "Bull" and we do not want to see a replication of the previous situation where fights, assaults and criminal damage, caused by those drinking in the "Bull" were a regular occurrence in the High Street.

"We feel that the authorities focus on the symptoms of the problem and not the cause - the "Bull.""

LICENCE REVIEW

A Dover district Council (DDC) spokesman said it was considering carrying out a licence review of the "Bull".

He said: "We are aware of this matter, and can confirm that an event took place in Eastry that gave rise to complaints of noise nuisance and alleged antisocial behaviour, which led to DDCOut of Hours Noise officers attending the scene.

"This matter is currently being investigated  jointly by Dover district Council and Kent Police. The Licensing Section is liaising with local residents with regards to a possible review of the premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003."

Dover District Council says operators of licenses premises are required to actively promote the four licensing objectives:

● Prevention of crime and disorder

● Prevention of public nuisance

● Public safety

● Protection of children from harm

Any interested party or responsible authority may call for the review of a premises licence if they believe that the licensing objectives are not being promoted.

This process is evidence-based and so it is important that the person who is calling for a review has evidence to substantiate the application.

The best way to do this is to keep diaries of the events that have led the application including videos or photographs if they are available.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 10 March, 2011. 60p

MANAGER SET TO LEAVE TO 'SAFEGUARD FUTURE OF VILLAGE PUB'

Row at music leads to landlord's resignation

Report by Yamurai Zendera

A businessman has handed in his resignation as leaseholder of an Eastry pub after coming under fire for holding rowdy drum and bass nights.

Landlord Paul McMullan says the "Bull" has no commercial value if it is unable to hold regular music nights.

The pub is currently under investigation by Dover District Council (DDC) and Kent Police and could be made the subject of a licence review after a group of villagers accused Mr McMullan of blaring out drum and bass throughout the night.

The father-of-four; who applied for a temporary topless lap dancing licence al his other pub In Dover, the "Castle Inn," has now taken the decision to walk away.

He said: "To safeguard the future of the pub in the village, I have offered Punch Taverns my resignation as the tenant."

The former tabloid newspaper executive said his resignation was not an admission of guilt, adding: "While there was no breach of the licence and noise restrictions were adhered to.

"There were no underage people allowed in and we follow a vehement anti-drugs policy.

"I accept I was in full charge of that evening, so accept the responsibility for the bad feeling in the village and on that basis I'm happy to be the sacrificial lamb for the future of the pub."

It is still unknown if Punch Taverns has accepted his resignation but Ash resident Mr McMullan, who bought the lease in December, said the pub was costing him £1,000 a week.

He said: "The pub only makes money as a music venue. If I can't put on music events then I don't want it. It's costing me £1,000 a week and I must have entertainment to cover it."

The 13 villagers who made the initial complaint have refuted they were only upset because of the genre of music being played.

A statement from a representative read: "l can assure Mr McMuIlan that the furore would be exactly the same if a folk night resulted in the same kind of trouble, disturbance and noise nuisance.

"As I said in the letter this has not been an isolated incident and residents are regularly disturbed by the noise levels, most recently this weekend when two further complaints about noise nuisance were made by residents on Saturday night.

A DDC spokesman said it is investigating a complaint in relation to a music event that look place at the "Bull" on February 18.

He said: "We are aware of this matter, and can confirm that an event look place in Eastry that gave rise to complaints of noise nuisance and alleged antisocial behaviour, which led to DDC out-of-hours noise officers attending the scene.

"This matter is currently being investigated jointly by Dover District Council and Kent Police.

"The Licensing Section is liaising with local residents with regards to a possible review of the premises' licence under the Licensing Act 2003."