A pint down memory lane – a guide to the

A pint down memory lane

Writer

Christabel Smith

Illustrations courtesy of

Betty Boo Onion

History is never far from the surface in atmospheric Ramsgate. Whether you choose to drink in the vibe at your local or embark on a pub crawl (purely in the interests of research), it only takes a little imagination to picture the scenes from centuries gone by

The Queen Charlotte

The Queen Charlotte is believed to have been built between 1801 and 1821 on Addington Street, Ramsgate’s historical high street. It was granted its first licence in 1875, but the landlord clearly found the restrictive hours left him unable to quench his customers’ thirst, because in 1896 the Thanet Advertiser reported he had applied for an early-morning licence, in order to supply the shipwrights and fishermen with refreshments at 6am. As the Hovelling Boat Inn already had such a licence and had clearly cornered the dawn-drinking market, his application was refused. To keep afloat post-pandemic, the QC is currently available as a townhouse/pub to hire on Airbnb. Between bookings, it opens its doors to punters as before.

The Royal Victoria Pavillion

Today the Royal Victoria Pavilion may be all about all-day brunch and pitchers of cocktails, but as waiters and waitresses carry huge trays around the vast space, its theatrical past isn’t hard to evoke. In 1903 Stanley Davenport Adshead, who also designed Ramsgate Library, conceived the classic Edwardian pavilion as an entertainment complex, with a firstfloor promenade and viewing platform. Despite its scale, it was due to be completed in six months, although, like all good building projects, it over-ran and wasn’t opened until the following year, when Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Louise attended the ceremony. It became a casino in 1970, but after its closure in 2008 the building dilapidated until given a new lease of life by Wetherspoon’s, who refurbished and reopened the “Pav” as a pub that can hold close to 800. Claims it can be seen from space are unsubstantiated and most likely fuelled by cheap beer!

The Queen’s Head

Across Harbour Parade, The Queen’s Head, established in 1773, makes ’Spoons look like the new kid on the block. Demolished in the 1890s, it was rebuilt in its present style in 1921, retaining its reputation for being a seafarers’ pub. In November 1861 the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser reported that landlord William Toup pleaded guilty to opening on a Sunday “before the time stipulated”. Twelve fishermen and other residents had asked him to let them in so they could “settle some fish transactions”. Mr Toup, who was fined five shillings and ordered to pay 10 shillings in costs, said he would take care the offence never happened again. Nine years later his successor behind the bar, a Mr Lawrence, had to deal with a serious charge of assault against a fish dealer, involving a controversy over rotten herrings. Magistrates sentenced the defendant to 14 days’ hard labour in Sandwich.

Jim Barber, current landlord of The Queen’s Head, is proud of his pub’s rich history: “I wish CCTV had been invented in the 19th century, it would have been fascinating to see what went on within these walls. Great drinks, customer service and providing a safe and welcoming environment are what we’re about and I’m sure that was true in yesteryear, although my predecessors didn’t have to think about Sky TV, contactless payments, espresso martinis and vaping back then!

“We still serve the seafarers, not so much commercial fishermen, but charter boats, wind farmers, Border Force and various harbourside businesses. We’re the last traditionallooking pub on the harbour and have a mix of tourists, sports and live music fans, a lovely community of regulars, and, according to a medium, a ghostly ‘motherly spirit’ in the back bar. I’ve not met her, but our cleaner Sue is convinced!” ►

Artillery Arms

A military air clings to the Artillery Arms on West Cliff Road, with its leaded glass panes depicting scenes from the Napoleonic Wars. Built around 1810, it was reportedly used as an officers’ billet and/or a brothel. Back in 1934 the 24-year-old licensee Mr Drapper, an ex-Navy man, shot himself in the head in a taxi, just minutes after arriving at Paris’s Gare du Nord station. The driver was crossing Place de la Republique en route for Gare de Lyon when he heard the shot and turned to see the Mr Drapper, revolver in hand. Originally known as the Ash Arms, the Artillery is allegedly haunted by a man in early Victorian-style military uniform, who leans on an external wall to observe passers-by. He is sometimes joined by a female ghost in a long white dress and cotton cap, who sits on top of the short flight of stairs from the bar’s ground floor.

Horse & Groom

Brewers Tomson & Wotton (once “Britain’s oldest”) bought the Royal Arms, Charlotte Court, in 1865 and renamed it the Horse & Groom as it was close to Sackett’s livery yard. In 1960 Charlotte Cottage was added, redesigned and redecorated in keeping with the old pub. There was further renovation when Faversham brewers Shepherd Neame (“Britain’s oldest”) took it over in 2000.

RAMSGATE’S FIRST PUB?

The Red Lion in King Street, according to Ramsgate Historical Society. An alehouse since 1650, it was used by parish officers for “council meetings” until 1785 when the Town Hall was built.

dover-kent.com has a wealth of information on Ramsgate pubs past and present

Pub portraits

The pubs of her hometown inspired artist Betty Boo Onion. “When creating these pieces, I was looking to share the beauty of Ramsgate’s architecture in a way people of the town could appreciate,” she says. “In my opinion, these pubs represent foundations of community and many of us will recall meeting interesting characters in at least one of them!

“The pubs included in this series have unique qualities and different personalities, which I aimed to represent through the use of a single colour. They also come together to represent Ramsgate’s social landmarks.” bettyboosigns.com