From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 January, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENSING TRANSFER SESSIONS

At the Licensing Transfer Sessions on Friday, before Messrs. W. J. Barnes, G. D. Clark, C. W. Chitty, W. L. Law, S. Lewis, J. W. Bussey and S. J. Livings.

Mr. R. Mowll applied for the transfer of the wine licence of the Dovorian Restaurant, Market Square. Mr. James Graves had retired, and the business was now being carried on by Messrs. Igglesden and Son. The business had been in the family 145 years, though not selling wine all the time.

The application was granted.

Dover Express, Friday 10 February 1933.

Dover Brewster sessions.

Three Dover licences referred. Beer tax result.

The annual licensing meeting for the Borough and Liberties of Dover was held at the Town Hall, Dover, on Monday at 12. The Mayor (Councillor Moorcroft) presided, and other Magistrates were Messrs. W. B. Brett , J. W. Bussy, W. J. Palmer, W. Bradley, C. W. Chitty, S. J. Livings, W. L. Law, S. Lewis, G. D. Clark, F. R. Powell and T. Francis.

Decreased Drunkenness.

The report of the chief constable stated:- I am pleased to inform you that the houses have been well conducted generally, but there has been one prosecution, of which of the following is a description:- On the 12th August, 1932, a licensee was prosecuted for having on the 16th July, 1932, supplied and permitted to be consumed intoxicating liquor during non permitted hours, and three persons were prosecuted for consuming intoxicated liquor during non permitted hours. The licensee was fined £5 and £2 2s. costs, and the other three defendants were fined £1 each inclusive, the Justice's expressing the view that, subject of future good conduct on the part of the licensee, the conviction should not interfere with renewal of his licence. The house was well conducted subsequently, but the licence has since been transferred.

305 visits have been made by the police to licensed premises during the year. 532 special orders of exemption under section 57 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, were granted to licensed premises (including 35 clubs) during the year. Of this number, 385 were granted on the three days, 24th, 26th and 31st December, 1932, and 46 occasional licences were granted by the Justice's. Previous year, 389 and 42 respectively. The licences of 32 fully licensed houses, 2 beer "off" licences and 1 confectioner have been transferred during the year. Previous year, 24 fully licensed houses, 1 beer, wine and spirit off-licence and 2 shops. The "Railway Inn" Hawkesbury Street, was closed on 31st December, 1932, under the provisions of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910. At the meeting of the Justice's in February, 1931, application was made and granted for the removal of the licence of the Old Harbour Station to the New Priory Station, and the final order in respect thereto was made on the 8th April, 1932. There are now in the Borough:- Fully licensed houses, 129; "on" and "off" beer houses, 5; "off" beer houses, 9, shops, 11; confectioners, 3; total, 157. Drunkenness:- 1930, males 51, females 3, total 54; 1931, males 19, females 3, total 22; 1932, males 10, female 1, total 11. Of the total number proceeded against for drunken, 3 were residents, 7 non residents, and one soldier. The soldier was handed over to the Military Authorities to be dealt with. Population (Census, 1931), 41,097, population to each licence house, 262, drunkenness per 1000 population, 0.26. Should the Justice's desire to refer any house for compensation this year, I respectfully ask for instruction, upon receipt of which I will submit the necessary report respecting trade, etc.

Mr. A. E. Chitty applied for the transfer of the off-wine licence, Last Lane (formerly Dickinson's premises) from Mr. Olley to Mr. Edwards, and this was granted.

The Magistrates Clerk said that all the licences have been renewed accepting 3 cases, in which the licensees had had noticed, and in the case of the "Five Alls," Market Street, in which licensee had died.

The licenses for music, singing and dancing were also renewed.

Certificates, fixing the rate of compensation levy, were granted as before:- Admiralty Pier, Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Marine and Dover Priory refreshment rooms and Mr. Capelli's Restaurant, at 1/3, and the Granville Restaurant and the Shakespeare Buffet, that one half the usual rate.

Transfer sessions with fixed as April 7th, June 2nd, August 11th, October 6th, December 6th and January 5th, 1934.

Certificates under section 3 to hotels and restaurants, permitting the supply of refreshments will be granted.

Plans for rebuilding the veranda of the "Albion Hotel," Broadstairs, were approved. Opening Hours Unchanged.

On the question of permitted hours no one addressed the Bench as in former years.

Mr. R. Mowll said that all he asked was for a renewal of the existing arrangements 10 p.m. in winter, and 10:30 p.m. in summer.

The Mayor said that it will be granted.

The Magistrates Clerk said that anyone who opposed was entitled to be heard.

No one came forward.

The adjourned meetings were fixed at Broadstairs on February 22nd for renewing of licences, and to Dover on March 6th for hearing new applications, if any.

Closing Three Public Houses.

The Magistrates considered the question of the closing, on the grounds of redundancy, of the "Royal Mail," Strond Street, "Star," Church Street, and the "Criterion," Last Lane.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 February, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENSING EXTENSIONS

The "Oddfellows' Club" was granted an extension for the annual dinner of the Royal Ordnance Association, Dover Branch; thr Garden Hall for dances; Wesley Scouts, on February 14th; Sea Scouts, February 13th; St. John's Nursing Section, February 17th; and Telephone Operators on February 18th.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 3 March, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENSING

Mr. F. A. Cloke applied on behalf of licenses for an alteration of permitted hours applicable to Sundays in the Wingham area. the hours at present, which were from 12.30-2.30 p.m. were awkward, and in other parts of Kent the hours were 12-2 p.m.

The application was granted, and will start from April 5th.

A wine on-licence was granted to the licensee of the "Basket Makers Arms," Littlebourne.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 14 April, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENSING SESSIONS

At the Dover police Court on Friday, before Messrs. W. J. Barnes (in the chair), W. B. Brett, J. W. Bussey, W. Bradley, S. J. Livings, T. Francis, C. W. Chitty, W. J. Palmer, and Dr. Wood.

The "Red lion," St. Peter's was transferred from Arthur French to Sidney Moore, motor driver, Mill Road, Deal. The "Crown and Thistle," St. Peters, from Arthur Hills to William Balcombe, Assistant Secretary, Messrs. Tomson and Wotton, brewers, Ramsgate.

The licence of the "King's Hall," Dover, for music, singing and dancing, was transferred from Miss Marion Head to Herbert Cecil Butcher, the manager of the new lessees, Dover Entertainment, Ltd.

A music, singing and dancing licence for week days, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and for music only on Sundays, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. was granted to the Broadstairs Urban District Council in respect of a new concert pavilion on the promenade, to seat 650.

An application by the lessees of the Grenada, Plaza, and King's Hall, to increase the times for music and singing on Sundays, Good Fridays and other public feast days, from 6 to 10 to 6.30 to 10.30, to synchronise with the times of the cinemas hours on those days granted by the Town Council, was refused.

The Chairman asked if the Justices had any control over the pictures shown on Sundays. If the films were anything like those which appeared outside one particular house, they were certainly not fit for showing on Sunday. it was only an expression of his own opinion, but the extraordinary pictures of a man and woman exhibited outside made him think it was a pity they had no control over the pictures on Sunday.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 28 April, 1933. Price 1½d.

RATING LICENSED PREMISES

A special meeting of the Dover and Eastry Assessment Committee was held at Dover on Wednesday to hear appeals against the assessment of a number of licensed premises. Reductions were granted in the majority of cases. These were:- "Duke of Wellington," London Road, £30 and £22, reduced to £27 and £20; "Eagle Hotel," London Road, Dover, £65 and £52 to £56 and £40; "Sir John Falstaff," Ladywell, £52 and £42 to £44 and £32; "Duchess of Kent," Market Square, £75 and £60 to £70 and £56; "Wine Lodge," Townwall Street, £50 and £40 to £46 and £36; "Prince Imperial," Strond Street, £48 and £38 to £40 and £30; "Lord Nelson," St. James' Lane, £62 and £32 to £38 and £28; "Clarendon Hotel," Snargate Street, £75 and £60 to £60 and £48; "Newcastle Inn," Ewell Minnis, £22 and £15 to £20 and £12; "Hope Inn," Lydden, £25 and £18 to £22 and £15; "Granville Hotel," St. Margaret's, £202 and £165 to £165 and £134; "The Greyhound," Aylesham, £250 and £225 to £225 and £184; "Prince of Wales," Woodnesborough, £32 and £34 to £28 and £21; "Eight Bells," Wingham Well, £30 and £22 to £26 and £19; "Fleur de Lis," Sandwich, £60 and £48 to £50 and £40; "The Stag," The Strand, Walmer, £48 and £38 to £45 and £35.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 23 June, 1933. Price 1½d.

THE OBJECTION TO DOVER LICENCES

LICENSING AUTHORITIES REFUSES CLOSING ORDERS

The principle meeting of the East Kent Licensing Compensation Authorities was held at the Session House, St. Augustine's, Canterbury, on Friday and dealt with the following cases:- The “Star Inn,” Church Street, Dover; the “Criterion Inn,” Last Lane, Dover; and the “Royal Mail,” Strond Street, Dover.

Mr. C. J. Burgess was in the chair.

The case of the “Star Inn” and “Criterion Inn” were taken together and Mr. J. Flowers, K.C., with Mr. G. Lawrence appeared for Messrs. George beer and Rigden, the owners, and Mr. H. J. Baxter was on behalf of the Licensing Justices and Renewal Authority.

Mr. Baxter stated that the matter came before the Licensing Committee on the ground that the question of renewal of the licence should have further consideration having regard to the character and necessities of the neighbourhood and that the renewal of the licence was undesirable. The “Star Hotel” was in Church Street, Dover, which was a road leading off from the Market Square. The licensee was a Mr. Woods who had been there since January 6th, 1933, and the licence was formerly held by a Mr. Potts and the rateable value was gross £45 and net £36. There were, within a radius of 500 yards of this hotel eight other licensed premises, the nearest being the “Burlington Inn” about 40 yards away and the owners were the same as in the case of the “Star Inn.” The “Criterion,” which was also owned by the same person, was in Last Lane near the other said of the Market Square. The licensee was a Mr. Martin, Secretary of the Company, that owned the public house. Since 1928 there had been no fewer then five transfers. The rateable value was £44 and £34 net. Within 500 yards radius there were six other licensed premises, two of them, the “Gothic” and the “Liberty” which were about 100 yards away, were owned by the same owners as the “Criterion.”

Police-Inspector H. T. Leeming gave evidence of visiting the “Star” on various days in January and February at varying times of the day and said that from his general observation he thought it was a very poor trade and he did not see that anyone could get a living. He also spoke to visiting the “Criterion” at which he said there appeared to be very little trade done. There had been five changes of tenancy since 1928.

By Mr. Flowers: he did not know that two changes were due to illness in the tenant's family.

Mr. Flowers said that the tenancy of the “Star” was in the hands of two families for 40 years. The famous Mr. Longley, the heaviest man in England, was tenant from 1888 to 1904, and his widow carried on to 1907 and the late tenant, Mr. Potts, to 1922.

Mr. Flowers (to Inspector Leeming): There was a great deal of influenza about when you visited these premises?

Yes.

Frederick George Hayward, and architect and surveyor, of Dover, said that the two premises were old houses but in a fair state of repair.

Mr. Flowers stated that the Committee had no evidence of the trade of any single house in the district except the two mentioned in the Court that morning. Times had been hard and beer expensive. There had been a general depression in the licensing trade. The mere fact that certain Police Officers went to these houses in the middle of winter and found two, three or four customers was no evidence of differentiation because they had no evidence of what the other houses were doing. There was not a single piece of evidence that of a number of houses the “Star” and “Criterion” should go.

Mr. Baxter submitted that there was sufficient evidence for the Committee to proceed with the matter.

Mr. Flowers said that they could not have a mere haphazard selection of houses. There was not a shadow of doubt that if they decided to close the house the High Court would be moved to quash their decision. In the Market Square there were public houses side by side and touching each other.

The Chairman said that the two licensees would be renewed.

Mr. Flower asked for costs saying “I do think something should be allowed the brewers when they came here and there is no case to answer at all.

It was decided that no costs should be awarded.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 August, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENCE TRANSFER SESSIONS

The Bramley Stores (beer off), Westgate-on-Sea, was transferred from Francis F. Frith to Frank Sidney Moon of Thundersley, Essex, sub-postmaster.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 25 August, 1933. Price 1½d.

HOP PICKING BEGUN

One of the earliest parties of hop-pickers, numbering about fifty, travelled from London to Staplehurst on Tuesday, and began hop-picking on Wednesday. Other parties will continue to arrive at the various hop-fields in Kent until Saturday, and on Saturday and Sunday the greater number of the hoppers are expected to travel. The season will thus begin in earnest on Monday over a wide area. Some smaller groups of pickers are not, however, due to reach the hop-gardens until next Tuesday or Wednesday. In all, over 45,000 men and women and their families will make their annual journey to go hopping.
Inquiries show that this year's hop crop in Kent will be a good one, both in quality and in quantity. As to quality, there is stated to be no vermin or mould, and an absence of downy mildew. Altogether, it is likely to be an exceptionally clean crop. Regarding quantity, the acreage under cultivation this year is larger than that of last year. The figures are as follows:- 1933, 9,340; 1932, 8,977. This year's figures is however a decrease on that of 1931, which was 11,494.

FARMERS' OPINIONS.

The prospect of the hop crop for 1933 were discussed at the meeting of the Canterbury Farmers' Club and East Kent Chamber of Agriculture, held under the chairmanship of Mr. John Keir at Canterbury on Saturday.

Mr. T. Neame said there was every prospect of fully as good a crop as last year. There was absolutely no vermin, no mould, and, so far as he could see, a remarkable absence of downy mildew. In that respect there would be, he thought, as clean a crop of hops as had ever been offered to the brewers.

Mr. H. P. Spanton (Bishopsbourne) said he thought that in his district the hops would be picked about the same time – round about the first week in September.

Mr. G. W. Elgar (Sittingbourne) said that the quality of the hops in his district was exceptionally good this year.

Mr. A. Amos (Wye) said that although hops were not grown largely in his district. What were in cultivation were also free from disease. The result was due, he thought, to two factors. Firstly, because the season had been less favourable to the appearance or spread of disease, and, secondly, the growers were becoming more accomplished in the methods of combating the disease.

Mr. Dudley G. Le May (Tonbridge), a hop factor, said that he did not anticipate a bumper crop, but he did think that they would produce a few more hops than last year, with a certainly better quality.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 December, 1933. Price 1½d.

DOVER LICENSED VICTUALLERS DINNER

The annual dinner of the Dover and District Licensed Victuallers' protection Society was held at the “Lord Warden Hotel” on Wednesday last week. The chair was taken by Mr. A. Winter, a Director of Messrs. J. Buchanan and Co., Ltd., distillers, and he was supported by the officials of the Society, of which Mr. T. J. Smith is the chairman. The Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs. P. H. Morecroft) were amongst the guests. There was about 250 present at the dinner, and many more people came later to take part in the dance which followed the dinner.

Mr. A. G. Ralph, Secretary of the Society, proposed “The Mayor and Corporation of Dover.” The Mayor, he said, had been elected to office for another year, and they hoped he would be with them next year.

The Mayor, responding, said that the licensed victualler's was different from any other trade, inasmuch as anybody was not permitted to enter into it irrespective of credentials. Before they could carry on business they had to submit to many things; they had to have an exemplary character, they had to go before a Bench of Magistrates, who at their discretion said “yes” or “nay,” and a good many enquiries were made, so they could pride themselves on being placed upon a certain pedestal, as being people of unblemished character. He was very glad to see that they did not confine themselves to the licensing trade, but also aspired to sport. They had with them that night a man (he was sorry he did not belong to Dover), of whom the licensing trade ought to be proud, that general sportsman, Mr. F. G. Milton. (Applause.) Although he had not lifted the Dover Gold Cup yet there was yet more time, and he hoped that perhaps next year he would have the pleasure of presenting it to him. Nothing would give him greater pleasure. He accompanied him this year on one of his swims and hoped next year again to have that pleasure.

Mr. Winter proposed “The Dover and District Licensed Victuallers' Association.” As they were aware, he was deputising for Capt. Macdonald-Buchanan, who had been looking forward very much to taking the chair at the dinner. They were all aware, however, of what was happening in America, and in view of the importance of this question the direction of his firm thought it desirable that one of them should go to America to watch their interests. Referring to the Dover Society, Mr. Winter said the membership was roughly about 60 per cent. of the total number of licensees in the area. Whilst this was satisfactory as far as it went he hoped that those licensees who had not yet joined would make a point of doing so, and thereby enormously strengthening the power the Society could undoubtedly wield in all matters affecting their interests. He was also informed that the Society's relations with the local brewers were on a happy basis. It was unnecessary for him to refer to the many harassing restrictions under which all sections of the trade were compelled to conduct their business, and he thought if unity could be attained amongst the different sections, they would find it very much less difficult to obtain the concessions which were so necessary for the future welfare of the industry. Turning to matters of local interest outside the trade, this was the second year of office of the Mayor, and with such important developments going on in what was one of the most important ports of the country, it must be very satisfying to the ratepayers to know that their interests were in such good hands, and they were to be congratulated upon the readiness of the Mayor to undertake such onerous duties a second time. Before giving them the toast, he wished to mention the names of Mr. Selth, Mr. Pugh, Mr. Ralph, and thank them and the energetic committee for the arrangements made for their comfort, and congratulate them on the success of their efforts.

Mr. Pugh responded, and appealed to all licensees to join the Society so that they would be truly representative of the trade when they appeared before the Magistrates.

"The Allied Trades,” were toasted by Mr. G. A. Finch, and Mr. H. G. Cook responded.

Mr. T. J. Selth proposed “The Victuallers.” Mr. S. J. Livings, J.P. responding, said that when he stood for the Council the Licensed Victuallers were responsible for the fact that he got the record majority.

Mr. A. W. Gardner proposed “The president,” and Mr. Winter replied.

After the dinner, dancing continued until 3 a.m., the music being supplied by Lionel Keeley's Dance Orchestra.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 15 December, 1933. Price 1½d.

LICENCE TRANSFER SESSIONS

Dancing, singing and Music licences were granted to the "Westbury," (music and singing) (Herbert James Henchington), and Dover St. John Ambulance Corps' headquarters, Military Road, (F. W. Fox. Secretary of Corps).