Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Historic pub aiming to recharge your batteries
Landlord hopes electric car drivers will pull in for a drink
A 600-year-old inn is set to become the only pub in Canterbury that will allow customers to charge their electric cars while they sup on a pint. The Maiden’s Head in Wincheap will be inviting ecominded customers to use its 7kw charging point for the price of £2 per hour - or free of charge if having a meal. Landlord Jeremy Stirling says the tavern will set an example for others to follow.
“We are leading the way because there’s no other pub in Canterbury with one,” he said. “Hopefully it will bring customers in who want to sit, charge their car and have something to eat and drink.” Charging points can be found at a number of council-owned car parks, including at Wincheap Park and Ride, Watling Street, St Radigund’s and Military Road. Swedish firm Vattenfall installed nine more, each capable of refilling two vehicles, last year in marked bays in residents’ parking zones in Canterbury and Herne Bay.
The Maiden’s Head will be the second pub in the district - after Whitstable’s Oyster Bed - to be equipped with the technology when it launches on April 1. “It’s not a matter of cashing in because we’ll be selling the electricity nigh on at cost,” Mr Stirling continued.
“But with the amount of hybrid cars that are coming on the market, the pub will only get busier.”
Mr Stirling, who took over the boozer three years ago, added:
“The pub was formerly a coaching inn.
“Now we’ve got the B&B and charging points installed, it’d be like watering the horses almost because you’ll be feeding your car while coming into the city. “It’s the modern-day version of what it was.”