Dwindling cricket crowds spell end for Bat & Ball

‘With the declining crowds at the cricket and little passing trade it is not viable any more’ - landlord Tony Saxby

The famous Bat & Ball pub opposite Canterbury’s St Lawrence Ground has served its last pint after almost 180 years.

Landlord Tony Saxby is quitting after 25 years in charge, ending his reign as the city’s longest-serving publican ahead of the building likely being redeveloped for flats.

The 57-year-old bade farewell to the pub and its regulars with a party on Sunday.

Mr Saxby came to Canterbury from his native Hastings in 1992 after considering several pubs and decided on the Bat & Ball in Old Dover Road.

He said: “I am sad to see it go – after all, it’s what I’ve done for almost half my life.

“But the reality is that with the declining crowds at the cricket and the fact that there is little passing trade it is not viable any more.

“Added to that is the changing nature of society. People just don’t go to pubs the way they did 20 or 30 years ago.”

Pub firm Enterprise has sold the building and it is likely to be converted into flats, although no firm plans have been drawn up.

A tavern has stood on the site since the 1840s and Tony believes the present building came into being in the late 19th century.

It can be seen in the background of the renowned 1906 painting showing the county championship Kent side playing Lancashire.

Mr Saxby says the changing fortunes of the Kent County Cricket Club have had an effect on the pub’s business.

“The St Lawrence used to get 5,000 people in the ground for the first day of a county championship match, whereas now they’re lucky to get 500,” Tony said.

“We used to wait for the ‘Ground Full’ sign to go up and then we knew it would be a good day in the pub. There would often be as many as 7,000 here for a Sunday league match.

“You don’t get anywhere near that nowadays.

“Also, I haven’t been well lately and I’ve had some problems with my heart. I’m not going to retire, but I am going to try to get better.”