Home, studio and education space plan for Margate pub which dates back to early 1800s

Quart in a Pint Pot - formerly the George & Dragon Photo Frank Leppard

A former Margate pub which dates back to at least 1839 will become a home, artist studio and community education space if Thanet council gives approval.

The Quart in a Pint Pot in Charlotte Square – formerly the George and Dragon – is thought to have been built in the early 1800s as part of a terrace of five houses.

A planning document submitted to Thanet council by architects Studio Gray says: “The first listing of the pub is as the George & Dragon in an 1839 directory of publicans, where the landlady is noted as Thomasine Gifford. It was probably a beer shop converted from the terraced house, most likely a tiny pub scarcely larger than its rival in Charlotte Place, the Liverpool Arms, which was demolished in 1951.

Early 1900s Image Studio Gray/TDC Planning

“ In the mid-late 19th Century a single storey extension provided extra bar space and a ‘Bottle & Jug’ (off-licence). The 1852 map shows a wide gap to the side of the property, but by the 1873 map this has narrowed suggesting the extension has been built.

“We can also assume that the alterations to the elevation at ground floor took place at this time with the introduction of a castellated parapet and Romanesque windows and doors. The extension was mounted by a turret-like folly which also had a flagpole attachment. A skittle alley ran alongside the pub at No.30 and by the 1907 map this had been physically joined to the main pub building.”

1952 Image Studio Gray/ TDC Planning

One former landlord, Bill Hamilton played international football for Scotland. During his tenure the pub was tied to the Charrington brewery; before that Thompson of Walmer held the interest. The Charrington brewery closed the pub in the 1970s and it re-opened as a free house with its new name.

The pub ran until 2021 when the last landlord, Chang Wang, passed away. He left behind a widow and daughter. His widow Jackie eventually sold the pub last year to painter and sculptor Tom Gidley, who lives and works from studios in Ramsgate. Tom is one of the team behind the rebuilding and restoration of the Fort Road Hotel on Fort Hill, Margate.

Photo Frank Leppard

Chang ran the pub for a decade but the property has fallen into disrepair as the business lost money and needs a significant amount of work to stabilise it.

Planning documents state: “The application now includes the retention of a community facility in the form of The Quart project education space in which Tom will curate exhibitions with artists based in Margate and those with local connections, to include an ongoing series of talks and events.

Clearing out Photo Frank Leppard

“He is exploring the potential of collaborating with Open School East to host art courses and further educational opportunities. Tom’s partner Francesca Wilkins is the owner of the Margate Bookshop and it is also proposed that the project space will have a tie-in with the bookshop as part of the educational community use.”

Clearing out Photo Frank Leppard

The public bar areas will be converted to provide the new community space and the living areas for the residential accommodation. The community arts space will be at the front of the building and the painting studio will be behind the arts space.

The site is currently being stripped out after approval was granted on a separate application for that process.

A decision on the application is yet to be made. Details can be found on Thanet council’s planning portal, reference
F/TH/23/0293

Find more photo and memories of the pub on Thanet Hidden History by clicking here

17 Comments

    • Would you have artists banned from owning property?

      Perhaps they shouldn’t be allowed to vote either or be out on the streets after 6pm.

    • The article states clearly “The site is currently being stripped out after approval was granted on a separate application for that process.”

  1. What proof is there for the bold assertion that artists “don’t give a damn about local history”? And why should they not be allowed to buy pubs?

    Marva Rees

  2. where will all these new interested people park their cars? Charlotte square is a one way small street. Locals living here struggle to find parking. I do not recall any of us tennants getting asked how we feel about the “new and amazing cultural center” coming on to our door steps. This is a residentail area and business are really not welcome.

  3. Some confusing comments. The article states that it’s thought that the building started life as 5 terrace house & later one of these was converted to a pub. So in reality the artist has brought a former house. It also says that the pub closed in 2021 after the last publican ran the business (at a loss) for a decade. So I really don’t think that the artist can be accused of closing down the pub. Tom & Francesca should be applauded for their investment in the area. Although I would not blame them if they sold up & looked elsewhere, now they know that “businesses are not really welcome”

  4. Where do the people of St. Johns drink these days? The First and Last, The Spread Eagle, and now this. TDC should at the very least be forced to keep it open as a community asset, as councils were in Ash, Wingham and other Kent locations.

          • Actually I could be wrong, sorry. It could well be Sheldon’s. Neither of them are far. I sure that if someone with a thirst mistakenly went for a drink & found that it had closed in 2021 they could survive the short walk to either of the others.

  5. I noticed they have started stripping the place out before planning permission should wait until such times the council approval no wonder places like that are disappearing a lot of losses were due to COVID no wonder people are getting lazy buying alcaholnfrom shops and supermarkets and sitting indoors TDC need to stop this happening throughout the district people need to get out residential areas are residential.

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