Drowning sorrows at pub closures

Back in the 1960s and throughout the 1970s, the ‘pub’ circuit in Ashford was in tatters when a number of the town’s familiar haunts were lost in the name of progress.

Whether it was for a one-time quick drink or a long association with a particular ‘local’, the town had its fair share of watering holes.

With so many disappearing in the town in such a short space of time, many have been drowning their sorrows ever since.

At the time, breweries such as Whitbread, Courage, Watneys and Fremlins all had houses in the town and almost every corner of the town’s heart had a public house.

Even 50 to 60 years later, scores of local residents go to great lengths to reminisce about features of their youth and one always gets a request to see these once familiar haunts.

There are scarcely any left around the town today, seemingly the country has fallen out of love with these once-sustainable goldmines of business.

Over the years, I have accumulated many pictures showing the aforementioned pubs and I would say that I have pictures of most – if not all of your old haunts.

If my loyal readers of Remember When, either have requests or have photographs showing lost pubs that you would like me to feature, Please contact me primarily by e-mail using the details below, or drop me a line. I will endeavour to feature them in a forthcoming Remember When.

This week we start our trip down memory lane by taking a look at a trio of lost Ashford pubs.

Have you any photographs or slides that you would be willing to loan me, to enable them to be scanned for possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, get in touch.

Write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford, Kent TN24 8RY.

E-mail me: rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk

Follow me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford

Or you can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232