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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 11 February, 1910.
DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS
FOUR HOUSES REPORTED FOR REMOVAL.
The annual Dover Licensing Sessions were held at the Town Hall on
Monday at midday. Four licenses were reported to Quarter Sessions for
removal under the Compensation Act. There were no applications for new
licenses, and the proceedings did not last more than one hour. The
following Magistrates were preset: The Mayor (Mr. Walter Emden), Messrs.
H. W. Thorpe, J. L. Bradley, E. Chitty, F. G. Wright, W. J. Barnes, and
T. A. Terson.
OLD LICENSES RENEWED.
The Mayor said that the applications for renewals of the existing
licenses (except the four houses in respect to such notice had been
given) in the borough and liberties would be granted. He was pleased to
say there were only two cases where reports had been made in regard to
houses. In both those cases they had been met by the house being placed
in other hands.
REFRESHMENT ROOMS.
Mr. Mowll applied for the compensation contribution in regard to the
refreshment rooms on the Admiralty Pier, the prince of Wales Pier, the
Promenade Pier, and Mr. Tritton's, to be reduced one-half as on previous
occasions. A similar application was made on behalf of the Harbour and
Town stations refreshment rooms. These were granted.
In regard to the Granville Restaurant, which had had a reduction of
contribution on previous occasions, no application was made.
TRANSFER DAYS.
The transfer days were arranged as follows; April 1st, July 3rd,
August 5th, October 7th, December 2nd, and January 20th.
ADJOURNED MEETING.
The adjourned Licensing meeting will be held at Broadstairs for
renewals on March 2nd, and at the Town Hall, Dover, on March 4th, to
hear applications for new-licenses.
SWAN HOTEL.
Mr. Mowll stated that the Swan Hotel had been held under two titles,
and the lease of one of them had fallen in. This necessitated some
alterations to the ground floor.
In reply to the Magistrate's Clerk, Mr. Mowll said that with the
cottage there were a certain number of extra bedrooms. There would be no
extra entrances.
THE MILESTONE.
In respect to this house, notices had been served of objections to
the license on the grounds of redundancy.
Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared for the brewers and the tenant.
Chief Constable Fox said; The Milestone is a fully licensed house
situated in London Road. The owners are Messrs. George Beer and Co.,
Canterbury. The present tenant is Edwin Stock. It was transferred to him
on the 7th August, 1908. There have been six changes in eight years. The
rateable value is gross £24, net £19 5s. The licensed house in the
immediate neighbourhood are the "Rose and Crown," 61 yards, the "Crown" beerhouse, 132 yards. The frontage of the house is 13ft. 8in., the
accommodation front bar, bar parlour, and private room on the ground
floor, the kitchen in the basement, and upstairs three bedrooms. It is
next to the Wesleyan Schools. I visited the house at 10.50 a.m. on
Thursday, 20th January, and found no customers. At 3.05 on Monday,
January 24th, I found no customers. At 9.30 a.m. on Saturday, January
29th, I found no customers. At 6.50 p.m. on Thursday, February 3rd, I
found one customer.
Cross-examined: Do you really consider your evidence as to the number
of customers is of value having regard to the carefully selected times
of visiting the house? - I visited it morning, afternoon, and evening.
But look at the time of the week; there is no visit to the house on
either Friday or Saturday afternoon or evening? - No, I did not know any
reason why I should go here then.
You did not go when there was any chance of wages being left? - I
went on Monday afternoon.
When people aught to be at work? - I visited it four times. I did not
think it fair to go there on a Saturday evening.
THE NEPTUNE HALL.
This was also a house to which objections to the renewal of the
license had been given on orders of the Magistrates on the ground of
redundancy.
Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared to represent the tenant.
The Chief Constable said that the Neptune Hall, Hawkesbury Street,
was fully licensed. The brewers were Messrs. Mackeson and Co. Hythe. The
tenant was Mr. G. H. Walker, and it was transferred to him on August
16th, 1895. The rateable value was £15 gross, £12 net. The licensed
houses in the immediate vicinity were the "Albion" 67 yards, the
"Railway Inn" 97 yards, the "Archliffe Fort Inn" back door 30 yards, the
front 50 yards, the "Endeavour," Bulwark Street, 93 yards, the "Hope,"
Council House Street, 120 yards, the "Granville Arms," Limekiln Street,
64 yards, the "Two Brewers," Limekiln Street, side door 66 yards, front
door 76 yards. Including the buffets at the Railway stations, there were
27 licensed houses in the area to the west of the railway. The total
number of houses in the area was 493, and 430 were occupied and 63
empty. Reckoning five persons to each house there were 2175 in the
district, or 80 persons to each license in the district. That included
children. In Hawkesbury Street there were 23 houses, including three
licensed premises. In the immediate neighbourhood a number of the house
had been demolished. The frontage was 14ft. 10in. The side of the house
abutted on to Bulwark Lane, and was 47ft. The accommodation was a
private bar in front, public bar, door at side entrance. private sitting
room, used also as a store room, and a kitchen on the ground floor.
Upstairs there was one sitting room, three bedrooms, and two rooms not
in use. At 11.20 on Thursday, 20th January, there was one customer, at
3.30 on January 24th no customers, at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 31st, no
customers, at 7.20 p.m. on Thursday, February 3rd, two customers.
The Mayor: The house has been well conducted. - Oh yes, the man has
been there since 1895.
Mr. Mowll: In regard to these visits, you say, I see you gave him two
visits on Thursday? - Yes.
It so happens he has been keeping a little record against you, and on
Thursday there were 83 customers.
The Mayor: That is the whole day?
Mr. Mowll: yes, not at one time, of course.
The Mayor: You are not questioning his evidence?
Mr. Mowll: No. In regard to Superintendent Fox I should not question
his word. I was questioning the value of his evidence. On Monday, the
27th, when you say there were no customers when you went into the house
there were over 60 on that day. On the Thursday there were 34, on Friday
88, on Saturday 96, on Monday 63, on Tuesday 53, on Wednesday 46, on
Thursday 63, on Friday 76. You see from these figures that your little
test of visits at carefully selected times are hardly a fair criterion
of the trade being done.
Chief Constable Fox: I see yours increase as time went on; evidently
they knew something was coming off.
It is not a wise remark on your part, and it is not true. In regard
to the number of licensed premises in the district, if I remember
rightly you gave the same evidence in respect to the "Albion" last year?
- Yes; it would cost too much to close it.
When you made a statement as to the population in this immediate area
I think you will agree with me that the public houses in the Pier
district cater for people who live in other parts of the town and work
in the neighbourhood? - Yes, I have also included any military who live
near or pass through the district.
Mr. Mowll said that the basis taken, therefore was not of much value.
The Mayor: Surely the basis is to take so many people into each
house. The Superintendent has also stated that you must consider the
large number of working people who come down to the Pier district.
Mr. Mowll: This tenant has been in the house for 14 years?
The Chief Constable: Yes.
He has no other means of livelihood, and that means that he has
been able to get a living during that time? - I have his own words
for it; he says he has.
THE PIER INN.
This license was also opposed by direction of the Magistrates
on the grounds of redundancy.
Mr. Mowll said that he appeared on behalf of the licensee and Mr.
Gardiner, who was the immediate leaseholder for the premises.
Mr. Spyh appeared for the freeholder.
The Chief Constable said that the "Pier Inn" was a fully licensed
house, and also an early morning licensed house. The brewers were Mr. T.
H. Gardiner, trading as the Burton Beer Co., Herne Bay. The present
tenant was William Thomas Hunter, and it was transferred to him on 25th
January, 1907, and there had been six changes in ten years. The rateable
value was £30 gross and £24 net. The licensed house in the immediate
neighbourhood were the "Brussels," 19 yards, the "Terminus," 25 yards,
the "Sceptre," 73 yards, and the "Railway Bell," 128 yards, all in the
same street, There were also the Railway buffet, the "Rose and
Crown," 59 yards, the "Cinque Port Arms," 47 yards, the "Royal
Hotel,"106 yards, and the "Silver Lion," Middle Row, 68 yards. There
were also the "King's Head," the "Lord Warden," and the "Dover Castle
Hotels." This was one he mentioned in the case of the "Neptune Hall,"
Beach Street and a total number of 26 houses, including five licensed
premises. The frontage was 20ft. 6in., and the house had a side abutting
on to King's Passage of 26ft. 6in. The accommodation was front bar,
private bar at side, and private sitting room on the ground floor,
kitchen on the basement, and four bedrooms. He visited the house at
11.10 a.m. on Thursday, 20th January, and there were no customers; at
3.25 on Monday, 24th January, two customers; at 9.55 a.m. on Monday,
31st January, one customer; at 7.30 p.m., on Thursday, 3rd February, two
customers.
Cross-examined: This house has been occupied by the present licensee
three years? - Yes.
It has an early morning license? - Yes.
Why? - I do not know how many years it has had one.
Do you not know the object? - All the early morning licenses have
been granted for the supply of coffee to men working all night.
This is opposite the Railway station and the nearest house to the
Admiralty Pier? - Yes.
And it is frequently used by men coming from the boats? - Yes. It is
open at 3.30.
Mr. Mowll said: In regard to these cases I only want to say a few
words. I think the "Pier Inn" I can dismiss by saying that this man has
been there three years, that he gets up very early in the morning, and
he supplies what is undoubtedly a want - coffee, ad if people require
it, intoxicants for the passengers coming from the early morning boats,
and for the many men employed down there in the night traffic. One could
imagine that men working on the Admiralty Pier on the depth of winter
were exceedingly thankful to have a nice place like the "Pier Inn" where
they can go and have a cup of coffee or something else if they wish it,
or something in their coffee, as I believe some of then do after they
have done their work. In regard to the "Neptune Hall," I do think I
aught to offer you a few observations on that case. This man has held
the license for 14 years. It goes without saying that as it is a fact
that the man has got no other means of livelihood that he has been
making a living there, or he could not have held the license for those
many years. You will remember you had the case of the "Albion" before
you last year, and then I suggested to you that the "Albion" could not
very well be taken away because of the trade it was doing. You then
invited me to offer the name of another house. That invitation placed me
in a very invidious position, having various clients, and I could not
with justice to them make any suggestion to the house that should be
selected. The "Albion" was referred by you to the Quarter Sessions. But
it was renewed by the Quarter Sessions, no doubt on the grounds of the
very considerable trade it did. Now we come to this year. The "Albion"
is left standing, and the "Neptune Hall" is selected for extinction. I
think the very fact of the man having been there so long is some
indication of the "Neptune Hall" doing a very decent trade, and I ask
you to renew the licence. There seems to be a sort of feeling that it is
almost hopeless to ask the Dover Bench to renew licenses selected by
them for extinction. I hope it is not hopeless. It is rather
discouraging to the advocate to find that the remarks he makes so seldom
bear fruit, and that is particularly discouraging to me as being the
unfortunate advocate who usually appears in these cases that so little
success in this department falls to me. I can only say that it does seem
to me a very hard case that the tenant of the "Neptune Hall" is to have
his licence taken away from him after holding it for no less than 14
years, and therefore I ask you to renew the licenses.
THE BEACONSFIELD ARMS.
The licence of the "Beaconsfield Arms," Adrian Street, was also
opposed on the instructions of the Magistrates on the grounds of
redundancy.
No one appeared to legally represent the tenant or owner, but the
Secretary of the East Kent Brewers Company and the leaseholder
were in Court.
Chief Constable Fox said that the "Beaconsfield Arms" was a fully
licensed house situated in Adrian Street. The owners were the East Kent
Brewery Company, Sandwich, and the tenant was Horton Walter Moore, and
it was transferred to him on October 2nd, 1908. There had been five
changes in nine years. The rateable value was £40 gross, net £32. The
licensed houses in the immediate neighbourhood were the "Liberty," 11
yards, the "Trocadero," 29 yards, the "Prince Louis," 40 yards, the "New
Mogul," 51 yards, and the "Criterion," 74 yards. The frontage was 27ft.
The accommodation was the front bar, side bar, small kitchen on the
ground floor, and upstairs a club room used also as a dining room
(private), and there were four bedrooms. It was visited at 11.50 a.m. on
Thursday, January 20th, and there were two customers; at 3.50 p.m. on
Monday, January 24th, one customer; at 10.05 a.m. on Saturday, January
29th, no customers; at 7.47 p.m. on Thursday, February 3rd, three
customers.
The Secretary of the Brewery Company said that they were not asking
any questions.
THE DECISION.
The Mayor at once said: The Bench have come to the conclusion that
the four licenses ought to go forward. Of course we quite appreciate the
eloquence of our friend, Mr. Mowll, and if it were a question of dealing
with a matter from one of sentiment, it might have been decided
otherwise. We have a very difficult question to deal with, and the
decision we have come to must have regard to the question of redundancy
in the neighbourhood. before even this case went to Court great care was
taken that those houses which we really believed are redundant, are
those that come before the Court, and I think the Bench in this case are
of the opinion that all these houses are in that category, and that it
is important to do otherwise than to send the four cases to be dealt
with by the Quarter Sessions.
The licenses were provisionally renewed pending the decision of
Quarter Sessions.
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