There have been over the years many pubs, clubs and hotels in Sandgate in fact at one time it was reported there were over thirty pubs alone in Sandgate, also several breweries. I thought this tale might be of interest to the reader so we need to start way back in the late 1700s!

Although we know that the Castle in Sandgate was built in 1538 by order of Henry VIII, and the first houses recorded in the Village were the shipbuilder’s cottage in the late 1700s, the first pub that we have found mentions of was the Rose Tavern in Prospect Road which was there in the 18^th century. Sadly we have not got a definite date for it, the premises had formerly been called Lawn Cottage, but no record of how long it was in business!

1717 – Sandgate House whose location is unknown however was on a list of Folkestone Beer houses but was most likely in Sandgate although the boundary between Folkestone and Sandgate, at that time ran from the foot of Sandgate Hill by the Fleur de Lis.

1725 – Fleur de Lis at 23 Sandgate High St. was in business from the 1700s to 1974.  At one time there were only 3 houses in Sandgate one being the Fleur. It was said to have been a meeting place for smugglers, also a haven for shipwrecked sailors in times past. In 1888 it was almost completely rebuilt and extended.  Apparently, it was in the Flisher family who held the licence for 175 years from the 1740s

1765 – Sandgate Fort was in business until 1772, location unknown however it is thought it possibly became the Castle Tavern in the High Street

1775 – The Royal Kent and Tap, formerly the New Inn, a wonderful old Coaching Inn in the High Street. Very up market with a garden leading down to the sea. Over time had many famous visitors inc. Queen Victoria when she was a Princess along with her mother!

1792 – 1804 The Trotting Horse, which stood on Castle Green

1792   The Good Intent unsure of this exact location but possibly in the vicinity of the Castle, nor how long it was in business

1789c to Present Day Ship Inn documents show when it was built. It is recorded that in 1838 a Mr Hogben was a fishmonger and beer retailer there, from 1890, beer only was served and the fish shop had ceased trading, extensive alterations took place. In 1929 it was granted a full licence to sell beer wines and spirits. There is said to be a ghost on the premises of a fish lady whose appearance is accompanied by a strong smell of fish!

1805 – Present Day Royal Norfolk Hotel, formerly named The Ship, it was first referred to as the Royal Norfolk in 1864 after the Duchess of Norfolk and her children enjoyed a long stay there. In 1901 the old building was demolished and the new building was opened in 1902.

1805 – 1911 Castle Tavern, formerly the Martello Tower 11 High St

1815 – 1911 Duke of York was located a few buildings east of the Royal Norfolk; in WW1 it became the Allies Café and stayed that way for a number of years latterly known as Bougie Bistro, now a house

1825 – 1914 The Alexandra Hotel & Alhambra Theatre, formerly The Bricklayers Arms 103 High Street, finally becoming The Rex Cinema, now an apartment block stands there.

1830 – 1871 Victoria Tavern – located where the Memorial now is

1838 -1864 Good Intent – possibly. in Castle Rd, where York House is

1838 – 1862 The Marine Hotel stood in the High Street, where the Coastguard Cottages are now.

c1843 – Present day The Providence Inne 47-49 High St. the exact year of opening is unknown, 1826 Directory lists John Elgar as a Pork Butcher, 1838 now a butcher and beer retailer, 1852 Slaughter house built at the back. In 1854 named the Providence Inne, in 1970s extended into the Seabreeze Café which stood on the corner

1841 – 1869 Duke of Wellington in Chapel Street (Wilberforce Rd)

1843 – 1869 The Sebastopol in the back half of the Ship Inn

1843-1852 Brewery run by Richard Hills at Hillside transferred to Brewers Hill in 1852

1851 A Brewery run by Frederick Sladden in Camp Road, that became Ordnance Rd which by 1896 was known as Brewers Hill

1854 – 1858 Alma exact location not known possibly in Military Rd where Alma Cottage now stands

1855 – 1871 British Flag in High St, poss. loc. next to Sandgate café

1856 – The Union on corner of Military Rd and the High Street possibly became the Military Tavern

1857 – 1869 Duke of Cambridge location unknown poss. in High St.

1858 – 1866 Allied Arms exact loc. unknown poss. close to the British Flag & George Worsalls Butchers shop

1858 – 1869 Prince of Wales formerly Inkerman Arms loc. unknown

1859 – Flower Pot location thought to be in High St. opp. Providence

1859 – 1869 City exact loc. unknown except that it was in High St.

1859 – True Briton formerly the Duke of Cumberland

1859 – Present Day The Clarendon Brewers Hill was damaged in the landslip of 1893 when they were unable to cook for customers! now named The Earl of Clarendon

1861 – 1869 Victoria Beer House in the High St exact loc. unknown

1900? The Riviera Hotel, prev. The Conamur School, now Zarina Court, a row of private houses facing the Esplanade, with sea views.

1863   Plates & Basins site unknown

1864 – 1968 Rose Inn 152 High St. listed 1864 was art gallery now residential

1865 – 1973 Royal Oak on Sandgate Hill last licencee, Ena Pafford a retired music hall and ENSA Artiste under name of Ena Dayne lived in the property until her death in 1977 now a private residence

1868 – 1963 Military Tavern on Military Hill (known locally as The Hole in the Wall) 1^st Landlord Henry J. MacLachlan aged 18, then in Mills family for many years & last licensees the Fieldsend family

1993 – Present Day The Sandgate Hotel Wellington Terrace

2015 – Inn Doors new to the High Street in August of that year

2018 – Sandgate Vaults new to the High Street from Spring 2018

Sandgate was never short of places to ‘Quench the Thirst’. Of course in the early days when Shorncliffe was home to thousands of soldiers and personal, the pubs and breweries must have done a roaring trade. Then as the population grew and visitors started holidaying in Sandgate which had become well known now as a popular place to go for one’s health; with the lovely beaches and nice walks this kept many of the watering holes in business.

As you can see over time many of the pubs have changed their names and locations and as we are now in the 21^st century with the few that have stood the test of time and thankfully are still there and thriving in the village; they have now been joined by a wide range of restaurants and cafés all adding to the wonderful character of Sandgate with its beautiful beaches, 16^th century Castle, wonderful walks, and of course The Old Fire Station, our headquarters of the Sandgate Society.

Jill Partridge, Archivist

        Coronation Celebration outside The Ship in High Street 1911

  The Royal Norfolk with The Woodford Hotel next to it

The Bricklayers Arms, over time the Alexandra Hotel, Alhambra Theatre and lastly The Rex Cinema, now Residential Apartments

 Fleur De Lis original Building c1725                The Royal Oak 

                   The Military Tavern ( Locally known as Hole in the Wall)

          The Royal Kent Hotel and Coaching Inn, in the High street

   The Riviera Hotel prev. The Conamur School, now Zarina Court

           The Beach Marine Hotel now Beach Marine Apartments

New Inn where Royal Kent once was, now Sir John Moore Apts.

The Marine Hotel where the Coastguard Cottages now stand

The Providence Inne in 1900s above –  and below c1970s