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High Street (Eastry)
16th Century pub.
Earliest reference found so far is in the Wingham Division Ale Licence list,
which shows the "Bull," Eastry, to be re-licensed for the sum of 8 shillings in
1740 indicating that the pub was present before 1740.
This pub was sold along with another 11 public houses in neighbouring
villages in 1826. The sum was £1,190 for this house but it is not known from who or to
whom.
Kelly's Directory 1899 describes it as a family and commercial hotel,
with good accommodation provided; luncheons & teas provided. The proprietor
at the time also being described as a jobmaster.
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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.
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From the East Kent Mercury, 25 October, 1980.
Crowds gathered to see a team of Whitbread Fremlin heavy horses who
paid a visit to the "Bull Inn" at Eastry on Saturday afternoon. The Shire
horses were at the pub to help landlord and lady Steve and Rose Smith
celebrate their first anniversary at the newly decorated Eastry pub.
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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."
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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.
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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."
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Unfortunately closed after local residents became fed up with the
licensees like of Drum and Base which he held evenings for... And I can't
blame them either. That didn't sound like a traditional village pub to me
The licensee at the time being nude pole dancing organiser Paul McMullen,
also licensee of the "Castle" in Dover.
LICENSEE LIST
DURBANE Ingram 1740+

FARRIER JOHN 1832-15/Feb/47 dec'd aged 66
  
FERRIERS Suzannah 1847+

MANSER Edward 1874-82
 
BUSHELL John 1891-99+

(jobmaster)
ELMS James William 1903+

WOOD Reuben John 1913-Jan/14
  
BRENCHLEY Henry to Jan/1914-Feb/21

DENNIS Albert Joseph Feb/1921+

BROCKWELL Frederick to Feb/1931+

POTTER Ernest Henry Feb/1931+

GULLY Mr James Frederick 1934 to May/1936
 
GODDEN A J E Mr May/1936-Oct/39

DYKE Mr G M Oct/1939-Jan/43

POOLE Mr Thompson Jan/1943+

FLEMING Frederick 1974+
Fremlins
SMITH Steve & Rose 1979-80+
McMULLAN Paul 2011
From Wingham Division Ale Licences 1740 Ref: KAO - QRLV 3/1
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
From the Pigot's Directory 1839
From the Pigot's Directory 1840
From
Bagshaw Directory 1847
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From
the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1914
From
the Kelly's Directory 1934
Library archives 1974
From the Dover Express
From the Deal Walmer & Sandwich Mercury
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