ROYAL KENT HOTEL Pubs of Sandgate

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Sandgate, September, 2022.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 01 September, 2022.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1851-

(Name from)

Royal Kent Hotel

Latest 1962

79-83 Sandgate High Street

Broadway

Sandgate

Above postcard, date 1908, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Above engraving, date unknown.

Above advert circa 1939, from the Burrow's R.A.C. County Map and Gazetteer, 4th edition. Kindly sent by TC.

As well as the "Royal Kent Hotel" the the Post Office Directory 1874 mentions a "Royal Kent Hotel Tap" also of Broadway, Sandgate, and the licensee being a Mrs. Catherine Shave.

Taps were usually licensed premises attached to the Hotel, and often as not as an extension to the hotel building, but not always.

Neville Webb emailed me to say that "1894 a The "Royal Kent Hotel" Company Ltd., was formed resulting the extensive rebuilding of the hotel in its 20th century form and their bankruptcy in 1899." William and Jessie Watts were his great, great aunt and uncle and were licensees between 1874 and 1899.

Unfortunately, he also goes on to say that the building has been demolished. And also:-

"P.S.: The annex to the "Royal Kent Hotel" was known as the "Kent Tap" (refuge for the peasants!). But that was run by William's mother and brother during the same period. The brother John, returned back to their Devon roots and ended up running the "Britannia Hotel" on the quay in Ilfracombe. Interestingly, the Sandgate grapevine suggests The 'Royal', in what was the Kent Hotel or earlier 'New Inn', came from a visit by one of Queen Victoria's kids! Similarly, the same local grapevine in Ilfracombe, suggests that the Royal, which is what the Britannia Hotel became, was because another member of royalty decided that shooting grouse in Devon seemed a good idea!!!!!! I will leave you to draw your own conclusions!!!!!!

From the Kentish Chronicle, 1 December, 1860.

SUDDEN DEATH AT SANDGATE.

Last week James Colyer, the ostler of the "Royal Kent Hotel" Mews, died very suddenly. He retired to rest on Friday evening, and complained of not being quite well, but nothing of a serious nature was apprehended. On Saturday morning his non-appearance at his usual time gave rise to suspicion, and his door being found locked, a ladder was procured, and on entrance to his room effected through the window, when he was found to be in a fit, from which he never rallied, and died in the course of the morning.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 8 January 1870.

SANDGATE.

The monthly meeting of the Local Board of Health was held on Thursday evening last. Present, Mr. W. Pledge (chairman), and Messrs. Bateman, Woudman, and Harman. Mr. Keeler, the occupier of the "Old Kent Hotel," was ordered to repair the gutters round his premises which are in a bad condition.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 12 May 1900. Price 1d.

SANDGATE SUICIDE.

The East Kent Coroner (R. M. Mercer, Esq.) held an inquest on Thursday at the "Royal Kent Hotel" touching the death of Henry Hobbs, of Military Collage, Military Road, a pointer und decorator, about 66 years of age, who, on Wednesday morning, cut his throat with a razor. According to his son, for the last two or three days he had been confused and strange in his manner, and had suffered from bronchitis.

The jury returned a verdict of ‘‘Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.

From the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton Herald, 5 October, 1912.

ROYAL KENT HOTEL, SANDGATE.

Private lawn leading down to sea. Sheltered from North and Easterly winds. Central position, between Folkestone and Hythe. Near Shorncliffe Camp.

J. E. Tanare, Proprietor.

LICENSEE LIST

MARSH Richard 1824-32+ (posting & livery stables)

ROBERTS Richard 1851+ (age 73 in 1851)