‘New normal’ as pubs finally reopen

Withmanyofour pubs reopening and mixed views from the general public over whether the time is right to restart socialising in licensed premises, we have seen news stories up and down the country illustrating a mixture of both sensible and careless approaches taken over the ‘new normal’, with many saying that some people just don’t get the rules and carry on as if there isn’t a pandemic.

Some authorities have even reported that those who are drunk cannot safely social distance and perhaps shouldn’t be putting themselves and others at risk.

Speaking to some readers, there are some villages in neighbouring areas that have either not reopened their licensed establishments due to not being able to adequately safeguard their customers, maybe due to the size of their premises, or not being able to obtain the necessary safety equipment marketed to protect others from the Covid19 situation.

One reader who contacted me and who wished to remain nameless told me the three public houses in her village had reopened last weekend after the government further relaxed the lockdown, but have since closed due to customers being symptomatic of the virus.

Back to the past, some readers and residents still hanker after the calmer and innocent times, where there wasn’t a pandemic and a pleasant time was to be had without fearing for your health.

You quite often have to go back much further than recent years to reflect on such carefree times which we all long for once again at a time when this awful pandemic subsides and a cure is found.

That’s why it’s so nice to look back at the many vintage pictures that are displayed each week for all to reminisce about.

This week Remember When takes a look back at a trio of images illustrating yet another set of past and present licensed premises in the town of Ashford.

Many thanks to Jim Ashby and the late Richard Filmer for this week’s pictures.

Do you have any photographs or slides of old Ashford you would be willing to loan me, to enable them to be scanned for possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Get in touch! Email me: rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk

1951 - For many years 31 high street, pictured here as Fendalls Wine Merchant, was estate agent Scott and Kendon and latterly Halifax Estate Agents, but prior to becoming an estate agents, the site, also known as St John’s Chambers, was once a public house known as the Ounce’s Head. An ounce is an English name for a snow leopard

1975 - Originally known as the Fernley Commercial and Temperance Hotel, the County Hotel has in recent years been owned JD Wetherspoon. The one-time Courage-owned hotel was sold to the national chain in 1998 which refurbished the ground floor of the premises but the former hotel rooms remain derelict