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Station Approach
3 Folkestone Road
Priory Hotel circa 1987 (Photo by Paul Skelton) |
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Photo by Barry Smith circa 1980. |
Complete with coffee rooms, commercial rooms and stables, this was under
construction in 1876. Tomlin was given permission to draw in 1877. The
railway station opposite was first built in 1861.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.
Henry William Sutton, Priory Hotel, Station Approach, was fined 10s.
for allowing light to show from the hotel at 8.15 p.m. on 4th September.
P.C. Steggles said that the light was coming from the public bar
door, which was wide open.
Defendant said that he opened the door to let some fresh air in as
the place was like an oven. He had had the lights attended to since.
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There is ample evidence of a "Priory Tavern" previous to that but I was
unable to identify a site. It was said to stand in 3 Folkestone Road. It was
in 1852 when the licence was refused but also as late as 1874, I have presumed the
new replaced the old later. This Whitbread House closed in 1988 and the
following years saw much done by way of alteration and renovation before
being reopened by Tony and Julie Butts on 4 May 1991.
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From the Dover Express 3 May 1991.
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PRIORY HOTEL IS BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK
The Priory Hotel, opposite Dover railway station, is well and truly back
on the rails after a massive refurbishment. The inn had been closed for
18 months and was in an extremely dilapidated state when taken over by
First Resort Ltd. Now former regulars will find it totally
unrecognisable from the Priory of old and tourists and other newcomers
will be in for a pleasant surprise. What they WILL NOT find is "plastic" decor, blaring juke boxes and
countless slot machines. What they WILL discover is a tastefully
decorated, classic-style pub with ample car parking. Step into the
Priory and enjoy the ambience heightened by the bar's brass and mahogany
fittings. Here the top quality bar food and wide selection of beers and
wines can be enjoyed. A great deal of attention has been paid to the structure of the building,
utilising internal space to make more use of rooms than in the past. Whether arriving by train or car, visitors staying at the hotel will
find delightful country-style pine rooms which satisfy the big demand in
Dover for first class accommodation at value for money. As well as en
suite bathrooms, satellite television and
direct dial telephones are also available. Food is
served all day. The young licensees of the Priory are Tony and Julie Butts, who are au
fait with the Dover pub scene, having run the seafront Britannia for 18
months. Tony, 31, said of their latest venture: "Although a large amount
of money has been spent on the refurbishment we will be concentrating on
value and a high standard of
service. "We would much rather be full of people enjoying the
surroundings and atmosphere at reasonable prices than empty and paying
extortionate prices often found in the plastic pubs that abound." Dover
already has a large number of foreign tourists passing through the town
and Tony and Julie are expecting an even bigger influx as the 1992
single European market
approaches. "We have already had many inquiries from tourists and
cross-Channel commuters who have welcomed a good quality coaching inn to
the area,' said 26-year-old Julie. The considerable task of converting
the Priory Hotel into its present pristine state fell to Berkeley
Construction, of Margate, who have gained a reputation for top-notch
workmanship. |
LICENSEE LIST
JENNINGS Charles 1858
SMITH Henry 1858-61 (Priory Tavern)
BIRSE John 1874 (Priory Tavern)
SPICER Thomas 1864
CORDON Mrs Elizabeth 1865
SPICER Mrs Harriat 1870
COOK W. 1871
ROBINSON 1873
ROBINSON 1873 (Priory Inn)
BUCKLAND Alfred Saville 1873-80
COULTER James 1874
FORSTER Henry F. 1876
TOMLIN T 1876 (Priory Hotel)
TOMLIN J. 1876-79 end
GOLDING Alfred 1879
NASH Robert 1882+
WARD James 1889-95
 (
WARD T)
WHITE J. 1902
WHITE John Harrison 1907
WHITE James H. 1907-22 dec'd
WHITE Mrs L. M. 1922-24+
 
ROLFE William Henry 1925-27 end
STEWARD Edward Snood 1927-28 end
PETTS Alfred William 1928-32+
THRESS Mrs 1933
LAND Mrs Amelia 1933-35 end
TOMLINSON Mrs Kate Fanny 1935-37 end
WRIGHT Horace 1937-38 end
SUTTON Henry William 1938-49 end
FAGG WaIter William 1949-Mar/54 end (Dover Express)
FERNLEY Leslie William Mar/1954 (Dover Express)
HEARNDEN Charles F. 1964-67
MARTIN Charles J. 1968
MARTIN Mrs J. 1971
HOSSICK David I. A. 1974
BUTTS Tony 1991-92 dec'd
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1889
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
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