From the Dover Telegraph, 1 February 1834.

There are 75 licensed public houses in Dover , 25 of which belong to a brewery, the firm consisting of a late jurat, a jurat, and two members of the common council. Another brewing firm has 17, the senior of which was formally a jurat, and one of his sons has just resigned his seat in the council; the whole being extensively related to different members of the corporation. A firm at Canterbury has five houses; three belonging to the Dover Bank, one to a spirit merchant in the corporation, four different brewers have one each, and the remainder are free. The last new license was in 1826, and that was granted to the late gaoler on his retirement. Several were granted previous to 1824. One license has been transferred to a new house, in consequence of a foot path, leading to the old one, being stopped up. One of the 26 houses was built by a jurat several years ago, on charity land, and a license obtained for one of his domestics who held it for a few years. It was offered for sale to another brewer who, finding he could not get the license guaranteed, declined the offer, when it was purchased by the present proprietors, and has been regularly licensed ever since. Mr Poulter, stated, that he had been a brewer in the town for ten years; and thought he had repeatedly applied, could never obtain a license. A person named Hart, had a license for seven years, and was turned out, without knowing the cause, unless it was his vote at elections. Fisher had a free license in 1824; but his brewer failing, it was refused on the ground that it belonged to the brewer and not to the publican; after being kept out of business twelve months, it was renewed. A great number of the publicans, at least two thirds, vote with the corporation at elections. Persons trading under prescriptive rights, without being free, pay no fines; but they cannot obtain a publican's license unless they purchase the freedom. The licenses for Margate, &c. were formally taken out in the court at Dover, but now the mayor, with two jurats, &c. holds a court there for that purpose. Spicer of Margate, had a free house there, but being obliged, by ill health, to reside away from it, the license was refused. A petition from his brother and several of the inhabitants, was presented to the bench; but no renewal obtained. Some time afterwards the man committed suicide, and on the appeal of his creditors, the license was restored. The number of public houses at Margate is 34: most of them are understood belong to the deputy. There are nine at St. Peter's and Broadstairs; one at Birchington, and two at Ringwould.