From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 16 September, 1887. 1d.

HARVEST SUPPER

Mr. Golder, of the “Hope Inn,” Lydden, applied for an extension of one hour on Saturday, 17th inst., on this occasion of a harvest supper at his premises.

The Magistrates granted an extension of one hour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 5 October, 1888.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT LYDDEN

On Tuesday a miller's son named Boughton, about 16 years of age, of Barham, was sent by his father with a trace horse to meet a returning waggon from Dover to assist in going up Lydden Hill. The youth was sitting sideways on the horse and also leading a dog by a string. A gentleman came up the road with two dogs, and when they met the lad's dog ran under the horse's heels and the animal taking fright galloped off, throwing the lad and entangling him in the trace. he was dragged in that way nearly half a mile. When the horse was stopped he was found dead and very badly knocked about. An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon at Mr. Golders, "Hope Inn," when a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

ANNUAL LICENSING REPORT

Mr. Bracher made an application on behalf of the "Hope Inn," Lydden, the licensee, Harry Hubbard stating that there was a persistent demand for spirits, especially for people coming off the cross-Channel boats. He produced a petition signed by 70 people and the acknowledgement of the formal notice by the Chairman of the Parish Council, who had written that he thought that there should be a full license for the house as some people wanted to get spirits as medicine.- Approved, subject to an additional monopoly value of £430.

From the Dover Express, 4 June, 2009

NEW LANDLORDS ARE FULL OF IDEAS TO REJUVENATE VILLAGE PUB.

New life: From left, Cassie and Steve Samme with head chef Chris Setchfield.

A MARRIED couple have staked their financial future on a village pub.

Steve Samme, 35, and wife Cassie, 21, moved from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, with their children after taking on an indefinite lease at the Hope Inn in Lydden.

The pair were recently made redundant from brewer Marston's and admit going it alone when pubs are being hit hard by recession, taxes and the smoking ban is a gamble.

Former relief pub manager Mr Samme said: "I've been in and out of the pub trade and catering for years. I'm a chef by trade so I have not gone into this blindly.

"It's going to be difficult. We have managed to negotiate with our brewery to reduce the prices on beer. For example a pint of Guinness was £3.20, that's now £2.95."

The couple hired a firm to scout for pubs and were impressed by the Hope.

Mr. Samme said: "The pub has a lot of potential. It had a massive refurb in February and we have also had a bit of a cleanup. We have brought back the skittles team, the darts team and pool team. We are looking at having car boot sales on Saturday mornings.

"We know it won't survive on drinks alone. Because of its village location we realise food is important, which is why I want to bring my experience as a chef to bear."

From the Dover Express, 21 January, 2010

PUB'S NEW OWNER IS HOPEFUL OF SUCCESS

Smells like community spirit: New owner of the Hope Inn, Elaine Smetham, pictured here with son Luke, is grateful for the support of the community.

Elaine 'fell in love' with the inn

THE Lydden community has thrown its support behind a local pub, according to the new owner.

Elaine Smetham, of the "Hope Inn," has been bowled over by the help from local residents since buying the business.

She believes this is because people desperately want it to do well following a series of different owners in recent times.

While the mother-of-three was putting things in place with son Luke, locals lent a hand decorating and prepping the bar and restaurant.

Elaine, 48, Said: "The people around here are very friendly. Everybody in the village is behind us and wants the pub to survive. It's had quite a few different owners in the past, and it's fair to say it had fallen into quite a state when we took it over."

Elaine has worked in the trade since she was 13 and says owning her own pub fulfils a lifelong ambition.

She moved from Bedford after "falling in love" with the Hope Inn.

She said: "It's only in the last 12 months that I've had the funds to do something like this. Before this, I was working for three years with a friend doing mass catering at weddings and sales work.

"I always wanted a country pub and my partner suggested the "Hope Inn." I fell in love with it and visualised what I could do with it."

Determined Elaine says she has been working 18 hour days to get things up to speed.

She said: "People talk about the recession and it being a bad time for pubs, but I'm actually in favour of the smoking ban, and I know through hard work that this place can be a real success."

Elaine has introduced a senior citizens' menu, and regular jam and salsa nights.

From the Dover Express, 2 September, 2010

VILLAGE LANDLADY'S FIGHT TO HALT DEVELOPMENT

Above shows Hope Inn landlady Elaine Smetham and Lydden villagers appealing against plans to demolish part of the pub.

House-build plans raise fears for pub.

Report by Kathy Bailes

RESIDENTS in Lydden are on a mission to save their village pub, fearing development on part of the grounds will mean its closure.

Last month Dover council granted permission for four houses, access and car parking changes to be built on land at the rear of the Hope Inn. But the proposal by land owner Martin Richards will entail part of the pub being demolished, car parking spaces cut from 30 to 12, and loss of garden space and the popular skittles alley.

Furious landlady Elaine Smetham says she has ploughed £15,000 into the business since taking it over in January and had hoped to extend her tenancy for another three years when it ends in November, but now fears the proposal will shut her down.

The mum-of-three, 49, said: "It will mean knocking my pub down. The plans are to knock down the side extension but this is not a residential extension, it is business. It means the bar, pool table, darts and toilets will go. My 28-seat restaurant will also be affected.

"This was a failing business last year but now it is on the up. It has grown. It is not just a pub, I have the restaurant, camping, and bed and breakfast. And I employ three local people. If my pub is knocked down it will be the end of all that."

The planning permission was granted at a Dover District Council meeting on August 19 despite objections from Lydden Parish Council and a number of villagers who attended the committee hearing.

In a report to councillors, planning officer Sarah Platts acknowledged the scheme proposes "demolition of the single-storey pub building," but added "none of the matters raised are considered to override the conclusion that permission may be granted."

Parish councillor Ben King said: "The Hope Inn is our only village amenity.

"If the single-storey extension is demolished I don't see how the pub can remain viable."

He confirmed the parish council is to appeal against the decision.

Regular Bryan Merry, 37, is one of those opposed to the development. The Kent Top Travel bus driver said: "It is important to us to keep the Hope Inn as it is. It is the only place in Lydden where people can meet, there are no village shops and the village hall has no real facilities. This is the hub of the community."

Elaine and villagers are due to meet with Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke tomorrow to discuss fighting the decision.