From the Dover Express 24 December 1997 by Bob Hollingsbee.

ONE TIME Castle Inn landlady Mrs Marjoram outside-the Russell Street public house with a mixture of customers, two of the sailors coming from HMS Ganges and HMS Queen respectively. The picture was shown to me by a fellow local history enthusiast and former ambulance officer Joe Harman, of St Radigunds Road. I was a little surprised to read from my notes that the postcard dates from about 1904.

From the Dover Express 28 January 1998.

My MENTION recently in Memories of how few early photographs there seemed to be of the Russell Street area around the Castle Inn prompted a response from Express reader Brenda Blackman.

"It was a surprise to me to see the photo of Mrs Marjoram, onetime landlady of the Castle Inn in your December 25 edition of Memories," she writes, "as she was my mother-in-law's mother."

Mrs Blackman said she lent Joe Harman the original postcard. "The date was 1908. I know this because the young lady on the right of the picture is my mother-in-law Kate born in 1894. She was 14 at the time.

"Her brother, Albert Marjoram is third from the left in a uniform I can't identify. In 1936 he was landlord of the Royal Mortar Inn public house in Military Road."

Mrs Blackman went on to tell me their father, David Marjoram was landlord of several pubs in the town over the years "having itchy feet!" Best of these was one at the bottom of Finnis Hill where they often had actors etc staying with them while they were appearing at the old Hippodrome theatre in Snargate Street, which was near the site of the former Dover Express offices and printing works, now demolished.

When David Marjoram retired and moved to Balfour Road he and his two daughters, Alice and Kate continued to care for people including soldiers stationed in Dover in the First World War.

And, she said: "One of them became the husband of Kate who gave birth to my husband, Eric in 1924!"

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 12 February, 1904. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

Mr. Rutley Mowll applied for the renewal of the licence of this house to Mr. Bushell.

Mr. A. M. Bradley opposed on behalf of the Temperance Council, and called F. W. Barthomomew to prove service of the notice of the objection on the grounds of (1) That on the 20th April, 1903, the then holder of the licence was convicted of keeping open during prohibited hours, and fined 20/- including costs; and (2) that the licence was not needed by the requirements of the neighbourhood.

Mr. Bradley said the facts in this case were similar to those in the last, (see last case) except that this was not an 1869 house, therefore that difficulty was out of the way. He drew attention to the fact there had been five changes in tenancy in five years, and that this house was situated at the corner of Dolphin Lane and Russell Street, and whichever way it was approached a person must pass another licensed to get to it. He called no evidence except that he asked that the register should be put in.

Mr. Rutley Mowll said he never remembered any occasion in all the licensing meetings he had attended where a renewal had been opposed and no evidence of any kind called except the production of a licensing register. It would be a great injustice to the present occupier, who had staked his little all, as not a syllable had been suggested against him. It was said that the licence was not required because of five changes in the last five years. But he would point out that was no reason at all. It was only a small house, and the publican after taking it and making a little money then went out and took a larger house. John Murray had taken the “New Inn,” at Sandwich a larger house; William Curling had left it for the “New Commercial Quay Inn,” another larger house; and J. J. Hunt left it for the “Green Dragon.” Bushell still had the house, and so every one of these five changes except the man convicted was in possession of a licence still. The argument was all nonsense, as the house was doing a comfortable trade, and the licence ought to be renewed. Last year there were a good many licenses opposed in various parts of the country, and three were opposed at that Court, but the Magistrates renewed them. They had served the town’s money by doing so, for where the other Benches did not have that good sense and took away licenses, what happened? In every single case where licenses were taken away and there was an appeal to the Quarter Sessions, except in one case where the house was very dilapidated, every one of these appeals was granted. What was the effect in L.S.D. The towns from whom these appeals took place had to bear the cost, which fell on the rates. He hardly thought that they would desire to increase the rates of the town in that way. If they did refuse this licence they would not satisfy those who objected. Mr. Wright or some other nominee of that powerful body the Dover temperance Council, would come before them next year and ask them to do it to some more, and they would not be satisfied till they cleared away every house in the place. He was going to suggest that the amount of drunkenness and offences had no bearing on the number of licensed houses, and that the Report of the Royal Commission was that where the number of public houses to houses were greater, that in those cases drunkenness was the least, or in other words that drinking leads to drinking. Supposing that the public houses in Dover were concentrated, and they were reduced by an eighth, that would, he contended, increase the drunkenness, for this reason. Supposing A and B, two friends, went into a public house. A stands B for a drink, a drink for B and himself, two drinks each. C and D, two friends of A and B, go into another public house and go through the same procedure. Take away the houses where C and D get their drinks, and so A, B, C, and D would go into the same house, and the four friends being together stand each other drinks, so that they would have four drinks apiece instead of two. (Laughter.)

Mr. Bradley: Then it is the strongest reason for taking away in the interest of the brewers. (Laughter.)

Mr. Mackenzie; That is Euclid.

The Mayor said that they had decided to renew the licence.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 February, 1914. Price 1½d.

LICENSING SESSIONS

Plans were also approved for making a fresh entrance into the room behind the bar parlour at the “Castle Inn,” Russell Street, and closing the existing door.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.

Nelson Staines, "Castle" Inn, Russell Street, was fined 10s., the offence being on 3rd September at 8.50 p.m.

P.C. Page said that a strong light came from the bar doors when they were opened. Defendant said that he was very sorry and wuld get the lights properly screened.

From the Dover Express, Memories by Bob Hollingsbee, 4 April 2002.

End of an era.

Here are regulars of the Castle Inn, Russell Street, back In 1963, a photograph taken by Hughie McCann, who I recall from the early days of the old Southern Television studios, across the road from the popular 'local.'

The picture was shown to me by ex-Royal Navy man Bill Cock, of Old Park Hill, Dover, a member of a group of regulars who switched to the Castle Inn after the old "Salutation" in Biggin Street closed its doors that year, prior to its demolition as part of a redevelopment scheme.

At Bill's suggestion I showed the photo to my friend Ray Horton, of Barton Road, who immediately gave me the exact date it was taken - August 3, 1963. Ray, who is one of those in the group photograph, has good reason to know.

His wife Pat was pregnant at the time and, in fact, their daughter Julie was born only a few hours later! And that was a good reason for a toast too!

Those pictured, left to right, are: Jack Pinnock (a bus conductor); Ray Bradley; Vi Blythe (nee Manton), whose brother was a cook on HMS Hood and was lost when it was destroyed and sunk. Vic Carr is half hidden between VI Blythe and Mrs Bollans, whose husband Charlie Bollans, mine host at the Castle Inn, is Just behind, holding a Gold Top logo.

Next is Ron Townsend, wearing glasses, son of Mrs 'Lou' Townsend, who is standing in front of him holding a glass of beer. Another son, Charles Victor Townsend, was Licensee of the old "Salutation", in Biggin Street - now site of Paynes, the greengrocers. Next are immigration officer Pete Elliott, Eric King, Paul Terry, Pete Elliott's wife Betty, and, just getting his head Into the shot, on the extreme right, Ray Horton. Ray, whose best man was Vic Carr, has a slightly different shot taken by Hughie McCann at the same time - see lower photo. Like Bill, Ray recalls that when the "Salutation" closed down a group of the 'locals' decided to stick together and adopt the Castle Inn as their new 'watering hole.'

Bill's copy of the photo, sent out to him while he was serving overseas in the Royal Navy, recalls a particularly thirsty Job - working in the somewhat steamy boiler room of naval survey vessels.

About that time, says Bill, he developed a rather 'healthy' interest in, and became rather fond of Fremlins' "Gold Top" English Ale!

This was reputedly good for anyone trying to reduce weight, because of a low sugar content. That was of special interest to Bill, because, he says, he was ordered to discard some weight before a posting - or lose some holiday leave!

Photo Souvenir.

Naturally Bill didn't want that, so he would have a juicy steak, he told me, and then make a beeline for the 'Castle' - but he reckons he put on more weight if anything, not less!

His fondness for "Gold Top", provoked friendly banter and his pals thought he would appreciate this picture, signed by some of his mates. They all wrote their names on the back.

I believe "Gold Top" was originally Dover brewer Alfred Leney's brand, presumably "home grown" at the former Phoenix Brewery, off Castle Street.

By coincidence I came across a cutting from a back number of the Dover Express, of Friday, August 9, 1963, with a picture of bar staff and locals all making the most of their last ever drinks at the old "Salutation", four days before, on Monday, August 5, 1963. Twelve hours later, Dover Demolition Company began pulling the pub down.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 20 September, 1963.

Double-decker Bus Crashes Into Saloon Bar.

An eight-ton double-decker bus careered out of control, for more than forty yards along Russell Street, in the early hours of Sunday morning, and plunged into the side of the "Castle Inn." It ripped open the side wall of the saloon bar, wrecking chairs and tables.

Just before the incident, three youths were seen walking towards the bus which had been parked outside the East Kent garage.

It was later discovered that the handbrake of the bus had been released.

The youths were seen by Mr. Cyril Chapman, who is employed by the Company and was leaving the garage a few minutes after one o'clock in the morning. One of them, he says, was tall with fair hair.

Later Mr. Chapman helped in a search of the district, but none of the youths could be found.

Mr. Charles Bollans, the licensee of the "Castle Inn," was asleep in a bedroom immediately above the saloon bar when the crash occurred.

"The whold building shuddered, and, for a moment, I thought it was going to collapse  like a pack of cards," he said.

"Had it happened a couple of hours earlier, when the bar was crowded, it would have been disastrous."

From the Dover Express, 29 July, 2010.

The red tape merchants have got me over a barrel.

AN Englishman's pub is The Castle, or so says new owner of that establishment, Paul McMullan. The Deal dad-of-four snapped up the Russell Street boozer just over a month ago but his dreams of pulling pints cannot be realised yet. It seems there is a mountain of paperwork to overcome first. Here he writes of his frustration at the seemingly endless need to fill out forms.

I WOULD like to say what a joy it is opening a new business to bring tourists to Dover and creating half a dozen jobs for the town ... but I can't.

The complexities of reopening an old coaching inn have left me adrift in a snowstorm of bureaucratic nonsense. Forests are being cut down to produce the paperwork I have to fill in.

Dozens of sheets of A4 are being handed to me daily, the health and Safety one even came in its own lever arch folder.

Each one has to be filled in not once, not twice but in quadruplet and sometimes quintruplet. I don't even know if that is a real word but I do know I have to write the same thing on the same form five times over.

Instead of moving in to The Castle Inn, which I have bought, and getting it running, I spend my days at Whitfield collecting another ream of forms from the Department of Listed Buildings ... the Department of Building Regulations ... the Department of Food Hygiene ... the Department of Meaningless and Unnecessary Paperwork.

OK, I made the last one up but try this ridiculous piece of red tape for size.

I am told in order to reopen this historic 'pub with accommodation' as a 'pub with accommodation' I must apply for a "Change of Use."

Not only do I have to fill in the forms but I need expensive architectural diagrams, plans, site maps and of course a fee of 300-and-something pounds.

"Don't worry," the girl said breezily behind the desk: "Your planning consultant will help you with that."

"A planning consultant, why on earth would I need a planning consultant to turn a 'pub with accommodation' into a 'pub with accommodation'?"

The Castle Inn has been running as a coaching inn since 1790. It has advertised its overnight rooms in Dover District Council's very own accommodation guide for tourists.

"I am not changing anything," I say. "I understand it is a listed building. I am leaving it exactly as it is. .I am just reopening the front door." The girl on the front desk says she needs a second opinion.

"Well, it still sounds like a change of use to me," said the head of planning, to my complete bafflement, and then she explained: "We don't actually have anything on our records, so for us to put it down on the record you have to go through the 'change of use' procedure."

I plead: "I have to open, I have to sell beer, I have to let rooms. I am heading for bankruptcy even before any customers have come in."

The Castle Inn existed even before the street that runs alongside it was built, Russell Street, and I like the look of it. I am not even going to change a roof tile.

I will put a few new ones in and reattach the old before they fall off, but inside is another matter. It is a dreadful mishmash of 1960s and 70s wallpaper, beer and cigarette-stained carpeting and bizarre paper-thin partitions.

Many of them are made out of wood and to be honest are a tinder box waiting to go up. The whole place burnt to the ground in 1895 - I don't want to repeat the trick.

I called the Kent Fire Safety Officer myself and what a breath of fresh air Candy Watson was. Not a form to be filled or a fee to be paid, just plain speaking on site advice on how to stop your building burning down.

I am desperate to upgrade facilities but just to install an ensuite toilet I have to hire another architect, for more plans - a site plan, waste plans, water run plans - for another fee of £500.

There are also four different sets of forms, each to be filled in four or five times over. I have 25 forms to fill in to sell a pint of beer and put in a toilet.

I have spent all afternoon in Dover's Heritage Centre in the reference section digging up historical documents about The Castle Inn, to present to the council as evidence it has been run as an Inn.

Surely the clue is in the name of the pub, The Castle Inn?

Thankfully there in black and white in one of Dover Corporation's very own pamphlets, dating back to the 1950s or 60s, I find my proof. In a list of places to stay recommended by the Corporation itself, The Castle Inn, Dolphin Lane, 12 shillings and 6p a night. I think 12/6 is about 60p, so clearly it never competed with The Grand, but I also discovered it used to be Cliff Richard's watering hole.

Every time he and the Shadows used to play in the now boarded-up Odeon, (That should read the Grenada, later ABC cinema). The Castle Inn being the closest to the stage door, Sir Cliff, then just in his 20s, would run round for a quick pint. I wonder if he stayed the night?

From the Dover Express, Thursday 16 September, 2010.

TABLOID PHONE HACKING WAS 'RIFE' SAYS LANDLORD

Pub boss and former journalist reveals 'reporting techniques'

THE landlord of a Dover pub has become embroiled in the controversy surrounding allegations News of the World reporters hacked into politicians' telephones.

Paul McMullan, a father of four, was a journalist on the Sunday red-top tabloid at the same time Andy Coulson - Downing Street's head of press - was a senior executive there.

Mr Coulson has been accused of knowing about the "dark arts" allegedly employed by reporters despite his public denials.

Mr McMullan, 48, who spent years as an investigative reporter and eventually deputy features editor, recently bought the "Castle Inn" in the town centre and is currently renovating it.

Last week, however, he broke his silence claiming to the Guardian that phone hacking and a host of other dubious reporting techniques were rife at the paper, particularly the use of private investigators.

Mr Coulson has always denied he knew of hacking.

But Mr McMullan, who lives in Ash, asked: "How can Coulson possibly say he didn't know what was going on with the private investigators?"

The former journalist - who has freelanced for this newspaper in recent years - claimed he regularly dealt with a private investigator called Steve Whittamore based in Hampshire. He provided confidential information at a price.

Mr McMullan - who qualified his actions with the "public interest" justification - added: "Some of what Steve did was legal, like using the electoral register, but if he went a step further, I would not have given it a second thought to whether that was illegal, because that was part of your job."

Mr Coulson was facing pressure to stand down in the face of a growing number of former News of the World hands stepping forward to question the Number 10 media advisor's stance on hacking.

Mr McMullan added: "Investigative journalism is a noble profession but we have to do ignoble things."

He appeared in The Guardian and on several television programmes last Thursday as the firestorm around Mr Coulson threatened to engulf him.

The Guardian broke the story on Thursday morning. Mr McMullan said he had accepted no fee for his interview with the journalist Nick Davies.

From the Dover Express, 14 October, 2010.

PUB OPENS WITH NO BEER OR LOOS

CHAOS: Castle In owner Paul McMullan (centre) and bar managers Kark Wooling and Georgia MacKenzie had teething problems on the opening night.

Castle Inn set to try again on Saturday.

THE grand re-opening of a Dover pub last Friday was hit by "teething" problems.

The first problem for The Castle Inn, at the end of Russell Street, came when the cellar beer equipment packed up.

The delivery of a new till scheduled to arrive for the Friday night bash was also delayed and staff ended up putting cash in an old peanut dispenser.

And then to add to the chaos the ladies toilet, which workmen had stayed up throughout the night to finish in time, was covered in wet paint and tacky varnish and had to remain closed.

Initially two of the musical acts booked to play the opening night threatened to walk off without even getting out their instruments, but in the "never say die" spirit of true Dovorians played anyway.

For the first time since The Castle Inn closed down in October 2007 the sound of laugher and good music wafted across the Russell Street car park and old National Express garage.

About 50 people turned up to see what was going on. One, mum-of-two Rebecca Smith, 29, said: "It was a lovely atmosphere and despite the fact there was no beer and no toilets and the bar was a complete shambles with no till, everyone mucked in and enjoyed themselves."

Ruby Langston, 18, from Folkestone, said: "Although there were opening night problems I had a great time."

Her mum Cath, 38, added: "They serve a lovely drop of Pinot."

To drum up new business for Dover, The Castle Inn has purchased a new mini bus and is offering to take people as far as Deal, Canterbury and Folkestone at closing time if they spend £20 in the pub.

Landlord Paul McMullan said: "It is a great idea all round. It helps stop drink driving and brings much needed new life into the town.

"We had to shelve our opening night thanks to the beer cooler in the cellar packing up.

"We had installed completely new beer lines and Heineken had tested the chillers but after the first pint of John Smiths the customer complained it was a little warm.

"Then a horrible screeching came from the cellar; a fan had burnt out on the unit and nothing was getting chilled.

"We had to close the ladies for fear of women spoiling their clothes on the wet paint and varnish and the till failed to turn up on time, but people were happy we were opening and the girls agreed to use the boys toilets and the band played on."

Just James played a number of Bob Dylan and blues numbers and Becky on the pub grand piano played a set of love songs.

A second reopening day has been set for this Saturday. The till has arrived, the cooler has been repaired and the paint has finally dried.

Newly appointed bar manageress Georgia MacKenzie, 23, whose family run and help work three pubs in Dover, said: "In the 1950s Dover had 340 pubs - by 2010 the number had dropped to 39. (Correct number was actually 96 in the 50s. Paul Skelton.)

"We are proud to reverse the trend and reopen as the 40th."

From the Dover Express, 18 November 2010.

SCARE FOR NEW LAND-LADY

SPOOKY NOISES AND SIGHTINGS IN 'HAUNTED' DOVER PUB.

NEW landlady of The Castle Inn Georgia McKenzie took on more spirits than she bargained for when she signed up to manage the recently reopened Russell Street pub.

When darkness falls over the 18th century inn, all manner of creaks, icy blasts and apparitions have been sending a shiver down her spine.

And on one evening two painters and decorators who stayed on to work late witnessed first-hand a man pacing the upper floors of the building.

When they called out to him they found all the doors bolted on the inside and there was no trace of him ever having been there. Georgia said: "I have had a sense that someone else is in the building ever since I moved in three weeks ago. One night the builders tripped a fuse and left the top floors in darkness. I was half way up the stairs when I heard a rustling and was too terrified to continue."

To ease her fears Georgia, 24, raced downstairs and called her partner Karl Wooding, 30, to bring their Rottweiler guard dog upstairs to investigate, but the three of them could find nothing.

Worse was to come when Georgia thought she was safely back in her bedroom when the keys in the lock starting "jingling".

She said: "I was so scared, the keys were moving but there was no one there. I opened the window to call for help."

Georgia added: "There is over 200 years of history in this building and hundreds of people have stayed at the inn and I fear something horrible must have happened to one of them."

Owner Paul McMullan said: "I have tried to find sensible explanations of what has been happening. When the windows are rattling and the wind is howling round the rafters it is easy to let your imagination run away with you."

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

PHONE HACKING INVESTIGATION IS 'NOT SERIOUS'

Met officers 'cosy' with reporters

A FRESH police investigation into illegal phone hacking by Sunday newspaper journalists has been dismissed by a former News of the World executive.

Paul McMullan, who now runs pubs in Dover and Eastry, claims the fresh probe into the practice of obtaining information from mobile telephones is not "serious or credible."

Mr McMullan told Newsnight on Wednesday last week that the Metropolitan Police were compromised in their original investigation into a wider hacking scandal because too many officers enjoyed a close relationship with journalists.

News International sacked a senior executive In charge of news after a series of e-mails appeared to implicate him in alleged phone-hacking activities."

The new probe was started after the Met received information from News of the World bosses who had carried out an inquiry.

This followed the resignation of Andy Coulson on January 21 as Prime Minister David Cameron's chief spin-doctor amid continuing speculation about what was really going on at the newspaper when he was editor there.

Mr McMullan said he had offered to be interviewed by police three times after he had broken his silence about his experiences as deputy features editor but said officers were reluctant to travel to Kent.

He said: "They never had any serious intention, "I don't suppose this is either serious or credible.

"The questions being asked of the police why they didn't pursue the inquiry further are valid there is a cosy relationship between the Met and some tabloid journalists.

"They didn't investigate it at all and that caused a lot of incredulity among tabloid types past and present.

"I don't want to come across as a whistle blower. I'm just standing up for free speech and the evils of privacy."

Mr Coulson resigned from Number 10 after facing a barrage of questions about his conduct as editor of the country's biggest selling newspaper.

The Met said it had reopened the case after receiving "significant new information" and would be led by deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers.

Mr McMullan, of Ash, runs the "Castle Inn" in Dover and "The Bull" in Eastry. He has freelanced for titles in Kent Regional News and Media, which includes this title.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 7 April, 2011. 60p

MOVIE STAY SLAMS TOWN DEVELOPERS

Hollywood celebrity Hugh's pop at planners over a pint

Report by Kathy Bailes

Hollywood star Hugh Grant has criticised the layout of Dover seafront saying part of The Gateway flats should be flattened.

The Four Wedding and a Funeral star made the comments in a Dover pub where he was celebrating his return to fitness after a recent health scare, with a beer and a packet of crisps.

Branding The Gateway "that monstrous tower block casting its shadow over the town and blocking the sea view," he suggested to other regulars at the "Castle Inn" that knocking part of it down would improve the view for visitors and residents.

The millionaire actor said: "Dover appears to have been reduced to a port with a dual carriageway running to it.

Thundering

"Most towns have bypasses, Dover has built a road to have lorries thundering right through the middle. It must be the worst piece of town planning I have ever seen and with that council block along the front you can drive right the way through Dover without knowing there is actually quite a nice beach the other side.

"They should try and knock some holes in the block."

"Castle Inn" owner Paul McMullan says be is now planning to launch a campaign to knock the width of Russell Street out of the centre of The Gateway flats to give the town back its view and access to the beach.

Mr Grant, who checked himself into hospital with chest pains and breathing difficulties last week, was in town to test his fitness with a round of golf at Sandwich after being given the all-clear by medics.

Following the round at Royal St Georges, where the Open kicks off in July, Hugh fulfilled a promise he made to Mr McMullan to have a beer in his bar.

In January Mr McMullan came to the rescue when the star's new £140,000 Ferrari broke down in Eastry by giving him a lift to St Georges in his pub minibus.

At the bar staff where amazed when Hugh first walked in but he said: "I am a man true to my word and if I promise someone I will look in and say thank you for helping me out, I will."

Mr McMullan said: "He is just like you or me apart from the Ferrari, the top models, the fame, the fortune, the adulation, the superstar pals and the jet set lifestyle, but he still enjoys a pint and on that note, the sly bugger left without paying, Hugh, mate, you owe me £5.40."

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 24 March, 2011. 60p

ANGER AS PUB LEADS TO NOISE NOTICE

Castle landlord hits out at council

Report by Adam Westgarth

A PUB landlord claims be has been served a noise abatement notice because of rowdy gate crashers who attacked him while trying to force their way into his bar

Paul McMullan, who owns the "Castle Inn," says a reveller tried to glass him at kicking out time last weekend.

Mr McMullan called the police who went to the Russell Street pub and are still looking for a man in his 20s in connection with the attack which took place at the end of a drum and bass disco night.

But Dover District Council officers also attended during the altercation and recorded an abatement of noise nuisance order.

Furious Mr McMullan said: "A number of people tried to get into the "Castle Inn" after closing time and when they were refused service, became aggressive and one tried to blind me with a glass.

"I was hit on the shoulder and head but mercifully it bounced off and shattered behind me.

"It had been a well managed and enjoyable night up until then. The disco was over and we were trying to close up by 2.30am.

Life-threatening

"It is unbelievably harsh the council should add insult to potentially life-threatening injury by serving us with a noise order."

In a letter to Mr McMullan DDC's senior environmental protection officer Peter Davison warns the landlord he could face legal proceedings and a fine of up to £20,000 if the "Castle Inn" breaks noise regulations again.

Mr Davison also warns the council may apply for a warrant to enter the premises and remove any equipment that "may be used to cause further nuisance".

A DDC spokesman said: "Under the Environmental Protection Act 1890 local authorities have a statutory duty to serve an abatement notice where they are satisfied that a nuisance exists or is likely to occur or recur."

Dad of four Mr McMullan, who gave up the lease to Eastry's the "Bull" pub in March after resident complaints, has vowed to appeal against the notice.

The former tabloid hack added: "We have learned The Beatles had been filmed inside the "Castle Inn" in the 1960s and The Rolling Stones and Sir Cliff Richard were also patrons.

"So many ordinary people in Dover have supported us for our efforts in reopening this historic music venue and I am saddened by the actions of the council.

"I have invested more than £200,000 in this part of Dover and we now have a vibrant music scene in what can only be described as the wasteland of the Dover development zone."

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 25 August, 2011. 60p

COUNCIL EXAMINATION OF 'TOPLESS BARMAIDS'

Risque wear gets licensing bosses hot under the collar

A request to allow barmaids to pull pints "topless" at Dover's "Castle Inn" has prompted stiff opposition from the council.

District council licensing officers said they were going to keep a keen eye on the skimpy costumes provided for the bar staff at the Russell Street pub in case they breached "adult entertainment" guidelines.

They ruled too much movement from the employees could breach "performance of dance" licensing rules and demanded that tassels, even if used to cover their modesty, could not be twirled in a provocative manner.

This week it appeared a compromise was close, as landlord Paul McMullan, agreed to alter the topless specials on Friday and Saturday nights in favour of Bikini Beach nights. He told the Express: "Discussing the size of tassels that would need to be stuck on the girls and whether or not they would be allowed to move while pulling pints was one of the more bizarre conversations I have had with the council. It was like stepping back into the 1930s.

Dancing

"When a girl reaches up to the optics clearly she is going to stretch and move - I suppose it, is a form of dance, but when the council say the licence required costs £5,100, I can understand why they are being picky."

An adult entertainment venue licence issued by Dover District Council (DDC) costs £2,100 for the application and £3,000 a year thereafter, allowing lap and pole dancing and topless entertainment.

DDC's newly-appointed chief licensing officer John Newcombe said: "It is the view of the licensing authority that the provision of 'topless barmaids' falls under the definition of 'adult entertainment', and as such would require either a variation to your licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for the provision of adult entertainment or an application for a sexual entertainments venue Licence under the Local Government Act 1982.

"Either route would allow for proper consideration to be given to the safety of members of staff and the promotion of the four licensing objectives, in particular the protection of children from harm objective."

Police licensing officer Steve Alexander, who also carried out a personal inspection, promised a top to bottom probe.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 1 December, 2011. 60p

CASTLE INN LANDLORD'S EVIDENCE AT ENQUIRY

DOVER pub IandIord and former News of the World journalist Paul McMullan came under the spotlight at the Leveson Inquiry into the culture practices and ethics of the press on Tuesday.

The father of four, whose career spans more than 20-years, spoke at length about the practice of phone-hacking, binrifling and undercover surveillance in the quest to write bout the truth".

In a comment that prompted a flurry of responses through social media such as Twitter Mr McMullan told the inquiry "privacy is for paedophiles".

He said: "The only people I think need privacy are people who do bad things. Privacy is the space bad people need to do bad things in.

Fundamental

"Privacy is particularly good for paedophiles, and if you keep that in mind, privacy is for paedos, fundamental, no one else needs it, privacy."

Controversially Mr McMullan defended the hacking of murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler's phone, saying: "Because I know how corrupt the police can be and how, actually, it's run by a bunch of Inspector Clouseaus, that the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone was not a bad thing for a journalist, a well-meaning journalist who is only trying to help find the girl, to do."

Former editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks also came under fire during his evidence, with Mr McMullan calling them "the scum of journalism," for their denials of any knowledge of phone-hacking.

Mr McMullan ended his evidence by saying: "The press and a free press, and a press that strays into a grey area is a good thing for the country and a good thing for democracy.

Should the video not play in your browser, it can be downloaded by clicking here.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 15 December, 2011. 60p

NOT GUILTY PLEA FOR PUB ASSAULT

The Dover publican who gave evidence to the Leveson inquiry into press standards has been the victim of an alleged assault at his public house.

On Monday Jake CIapson, 18. pleaded not guilty to assaulting former News of the World executive Mr McMullan by beating him at the "Castle lnn" on June 6.

Mr McMuIIan gave evidence to the inquiry a fortnight ago.

The widow of CRITCHLEY Brinley Aubrey 1947-61 dec'd of the "Castle Inn," took over the licence of the "Prince of Wales," Fishmongers Lane after Brin died.

Sorry I cannot remember her name for sure but it may have been Iris Crichley.

Regards, Peter Coe