YEW TREE Pubs of Barfrestone

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1847

Yew Tree

Latest Feb 2010

Barfrestone Road

(Barfrestone)

Above photograph of the Yew Tree by Paul Skelton 4 August 2007

Above photograph of Yew Tree, Barfrestone circa 1930

Above photo by kind permission Yew Tree, showing a previous landlord standing outside, date unknown.

Above photo by kind permission Yew Tree date unknown.

Above photo by kind permission Yew Tree. This shows the Yew Tree prior to being burnt down around 1923.

Above photo by kind permission Yew Tree date pre 1923.

Above photo by kind permission Yew Tree showing previous landlady date pre 1923.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 June, 1871. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE TO LET

The "Yew Tree" public-house, and cottage, situated at Barfreston; also, the "William Albert," Seven-star Street, Dover. Apply to Alfred Kingsford, Buckland Brewery, Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 1 March 1912.

COUNTY POLICE COURT

At the sitting of the Dover County Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. T. A. Terson (in the chair), and J. Scott, George Henry Baker, of no fixed abode, was charged of assaulting Agnes Bushell, on the 21st February, and, further with refusing to quit licensed premises, the "Yew Tree Inn," Barfrestone, at the same time and place.

Agnes Bushell said; I help my father, the licensee of the "Yew Tree Inn," Barfrestone. On the 21st February, about 9.15 p.m. the prisoner came in the bar and called for a pint of beer. I refused to serve him, as he was abusive the previous night. My father then came in from the back premises, and told the prisoner to quit, but he refused. I then went towards the bar to tell the prisoner to go out, and he struck me with his fist. A customer at the bar took hold of the prisoner, and P.C. Knighton then came in and took prisoner outside. Prisoner had been ejected some time previously by P.C. Thornycroft.

Prisoner pleaded guilty, and said he was very sorry.

Police Sergeant Barly, K.C.C. said the prisoner went about thrashing, and sometimes became a great nuisance, and he had thought it was best that the prisoner should not be served.

The Bench fined the prisoner 10s., including costs, in default, seven days.

Prisoner said he could not pay.

The original pub burnt down around 1923 and the current building was built on the site on the old. It has also been suggested that an even earlier pub stood on this site even before that.

It's name of "Yew Tree" suggests that the Inn was built in or near a church or burial site as these trees were only grown around church yards and not on agricultural land due to their highly toxic nature to cattle and horses, and nearby is the early Norman Church of St Nicholas of Barfrestone built around the 12th century.

This pub won the East Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year award in 2004 and 2005 and has always welcomed ramblers and cyclists.

From the Dover Mercury, 2 July, 2004.

Ban is breath of fresh air for country pub.

CLEARING THE AIR: Peter and Kathryn Garstin at their Yew Tree Pub

THE Yew Tree in Barfrestone has become a non-smoking pub.

Lit cigarettes became a thing of the past on Tuesday, with smoking now completely banned inside the pub.

The pub is following in the foot-steps of the Hare and Hounds in Northbourne, which introduced an almost total ban on smoking in June. A blanket ban on smoking in the Hare and Hounds came into force yesterday (Wednesday).

Yew Tree licensee Peter Garstin said that one of the main reasons for the ban had been the fact that he suffers from bronchitis caused by passive smoking.

He added: "We also need to give a bit more consumer choice. There are not many pubs where it is guaranteed that someone is not going to breathe fumes over you.

"Even if you have a no-smoking area you might have to walk through the smoking area to get to the toilets."

Until now the main bar has been a smoking area, with the rest of the pub being non-smoking. Smoking will probably still be allowed outside, Mr Garstin said.

He added: "The vast majority of our customers have been quite supportive, even some of the smokers.

"Some of them say that coming to a pub where you can't have a cigarette breaks the link between having a drink and smoking, as a lot of people only drink when they smoke."

He concluded: "I think the net gain will outweigh any short-term loss."

Pub with a growing reputation

Advertisement feature from Dover Mercury 26 July 2007.

WITH a menu featuring freshly cooked dishes made with local produce and a range of real ales, lagers and wines, the Yew Tree Inn is the perfect place for lovers of fine food and drink.

Chris and Margaret Cruse, plus manager Julie Keen, have run the pub, in Barfrestone, since January and have made a commitment to use local ingredients in their meals, where possible.

The pub is recognised by CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale - in their Good Beer Guide and is also listed in The Good Food guide.

A snack menu, with meals starting at just £3.50, and main meals are always available from Monday to Saturday.

Sunday is dedicated to roast dinners, featuring a choice of at least three meats, plus a fish and vegetarian option, all served with vegetables.

The pub is fast building up a reputation for its quality home cooking. The Yew Tree's fish pie, which includes salmon, haddock and prawns, is proving a popular favourite.

Steak and ale casserole with dumplings is another popular choice and vegetarians are well catered for, with dishes such as mixed mushrooms in a Stilton and Roquefort sauce.

On Friday and Saturday evenings the pub offers diners an A la carte menu, which includes Beef Wellington for £12.95, and fresh locally-caught smoked haddock served on a bed of light garlic mash, with poached egg and a cream sauce for £8.95.

Booking is recommended.

Diners can enjoy their meals in the bar area or separate dining-room.

Real ale is a big part of the Yew Tree experience with a selection including Hopdaemon's Incubus and Goachers' mild and light ales.

The pub also offers a wide range of lager, such as the Czech-produced Budvar, which is available on tap, plus wines, spirits and soft drinks.

A large, protected area has been created in the garden, suitable for smokers, while pub quizzers can enjoy regular quiz nights, with all proceeds going to local charities.

Future events planned include jazz evenings and specialist curry and steak nights.

The Yew Tree can be contacted on 01304 831619.

Above advert appeared in the Dover Mercury 28 August 2007.

From Dover Mercury 27 September 2007

Range of spirits haunt old pub

THERE are more than just the usual spirits at the Yew Tree Inn at Barfrestone, and people are being invited to join paranormal investigators in trying to find out more about them.

Representatives from Ghostsearch UK will be at the pub from 11pm on November 10 to carry out an investigation throughout the night.

One medium has already been to the pub and believes there are at least five ghosts there.

"Three are priests, one is a gardener and the other is a lady in white," said Yew Tree landlord Chris Cruse.

Places on the night are limited, and the cost is £38 per head, which includes use of all the ghosthunting equipment, and a buffet.

Call 01304 831619 or log on to www.ghostsearchuk.co.uk

Saturday 10th November the Yew Tree invited Paranormal Investigators into their building, below is the information that was given on their website http://www.ghostsearchuk.co.uk/.

I am hoping to add the full report when that too appears.

An Inn has stood on this same spot in Barfrestone for centuries, although the present building only dates back to around 1920/30, the Inn being rebuilt after the original building was destroyed by fire. The Yew Tree has a fascinating and intriguing history and it is therefore of no surprise to hear a tale or two of resident ghosts!

The centuries old Yew Tree from which the Inn takes its name suggests that the Inn was built on or near to an ancient burial site. The garage that belonged to The Yew Tree Inn was taken down when someone committed suicide in there. A few years after the murder of St Thomas Ä Becket in 1170, Barfreston became a stopping place on the pilgrim route from the coast to his shrine at Canterbury.

What a lovely old Inn, although this has been rebuilt due to a fire ravaging the former old building it seems as if one is stepping back in time as you pass through the doors.

The Landlord and Landlady have both experienced the Spirit that walk within these walls and I too came across many an active Spirit myself. I was given the name of Geoffrey whilst scanning the inn and came across an additional three male energies. It was no surprise to find ‘men of the cloth’ still come to this Inn and surrounding land in visitation. All of this land in which the Yew Tree stands once belonged to the church, the church itself (which is but a stone throw away) dates back to the 12th century. With both leylines and water that run through this property I feel sure Spirit will delight us with evidence that they have indeed survived physical death.

Currently closed due to ill health. Jan 2008.

Reopened again April 2008.

From the Dover Mercury, 17 September, 2009.

Yew Tree is new addition to pub guide

AN East Kent pub is among the new additions to the 2010 edition of Michelin's Eating Out in Pubs guide which has just been published.

The Yew Tree at Barfreston is among 570 of the best pubs serving good food in the UK and Ireland. More than 80 are new additions.

The "Fitzwalter Arms" at Goodnestone, which has been included in the guide in the past, has also been listed again.

Commenting on this year's guide, Derek Bulmer, the editor, said: "Judging by the number of new entries we have found for this year's guide it would seem that reports of the death of the British pub have been grossly exaggerated.

"Establishments that have adapted to the changing habits of their customers by offering good quality, value for money food are thriving. In fact, I would go as far as to say that food could be the saviour of our pub industry - especially in rural areas."

Michelin's Eating Out in Pubs guide is priced at £14.99.

View up to date information at their web site:- www.yewtree.info

February 2010 closed, hopefully to reopen again in the spring.

From the Dover Express 18 February 2010.

Report by Yamurai Zendera

CLOSED DOWN: The Yew Tree, Barfrestone Road, Barfrestone, owned by opera singer Ben Bevan, closed down at the end of January.

Pub closure leaves singer facing bankruptcy.

Hideous end to a sorry chapter.

AN ACCLAIMED opera singer who faces bankruptcy' after the closure of his award-winning pub, says the ending has been a "hideous" chapter in his life.

Baritone Ben Bevan and his wife have lost their home in Staple after deciding to remortgage it to buy the leasehold on the "Yew Tree" in Barfrestone two years ago.

The business closed recently after the main investor pulled out. The couple are now living in rented accommodation in Hythe with their two children, aged six and four, and Ben has returned to opera singing to make ends meet. He is due to sing the role of Marcello in La Boheme for the Scottish Opera at the Glasgow Theatre Royal later this month.

Ben's wife is employed as a teacher and is also an opera singer. The couple had to layoff six full-time staff members and some part-time workers.

Ben, 40 said: "The whole thing is pretty hideous. We had an investor in the pub and he pulled out. He got cold feet because of the level of trade and the rug was taken from underneath my feet. I was unable to carry on so the owners took over the building. We've lost a lot of money and are facing bankruptcy. I've got my family to think of so have returned to opera singing, but the work can be very sporadic."

Ben said the business' closure has been even tougher to take given all the energy put in to building it up. The "Yew Tree" was feted with awards after the Bevans bought the 15 year lease. Only last year it was named in the Good Food Guide and this year was among the new additions to the Michelin's Eating Out in Pubs guide.

Ben said: "We took on a closed pub and worked pretty tirelessly for two years. We broke even first year and were on the right track.

"The reason the investor got cold feet and pulled out was because the financial conditions at the moment are not great for pubs. Things were not looking good with the VAT going up, the overheads were very high and it was very quiet during the winter months.

"We couldn't continue without any working capital and the banks were totally uninterested."

Ben believes it has become extremely tough for small pubs to survive in the current climate.

He said: "Can small pubs like that actually exist?"

The Bevans moved to Staple from London six years ago and before the "Yew Tree," ran a wine firm.

Ben Is the youngest of a musical family of fourteen brothers and sisters and as a child he sang with the famiIy choir, performing throughout the UK and Europe.

Last year Ben was chosen by international tenor José Cura to work with him in the final of the José Cura Opera Project - the search for the next generation of opera star.

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

HOME PLANS FOR YEW TREE

THE once popular "Yew Tree" public house next to the church in Barfrestone is set to become a four-bedroom home, if Dover District CounciI has no objections.

Owners Jane and Duncan Smyth, who leased the pub at various times to other landlords, have come to the conclusion it is no longer viable.

The "Yew Tree" has had a difficult history with a trail of different landlords.

Mr and Mrs Smyth have now submitted a change of use application to the district council.

LICENSEE LIST

UPTON William 1847-58+ (Beer retailer)