Tenterden Folk Club on the move

Subject: Tenterden Folk Club on the move
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 10:59 AM

Below is the text of the email I have received from Alan Castle, Festival Director of Tenterden FF.

- Please note that Tenterden Folk Club will in future be held at the Vine Inn on the corner of the High Street and Station Road on the second Tuesday of every month starting on Tuesday 13th March.

We are very sad to be leaving the Eight Bells where the club started nearly 15 years ago and are very grateful to the three landlords who have helped and supported us throughout that time, particularly Jerry Smith who encouraged us to start the club and was a great supporter of Tenterden Folk Festival and currently John and Jayne Levis who have been a great help in enabling us to expand the Festival by sponsoring and hosting various events in the Bells. We will miss holding the club in the historic 14th century surrounds and will miss the words of Dickens inscribed on the beam in bar which contributed the title of our second CD of Kentish folk songs, "Apples Cherries, Hops and Women". We will take with us many happy memories.

However we are pleased to have found a new home for the folk club and the Tenterden Folk Festival sing-a-rounds in the Vine. Traditional Kentish beer from Shepherd Neame, the recently refurbished premises and a large car park and coach park just around the corner in Station Road should make it an ideal venue for these friendly sing-a-round and music sessions.

We look forward to seeing all our old friends and making new ones during "Folk at the Vine"

Alan Castle
Trustee and festival director
Tenterden Folk Festival
Tenterden Folk Day Trust (Registered charity No. 1038663)
Promoting folk song, music and dance
E: [e-mail]
W: www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk -


Basically what happened is that the owners of the 8 Bells told landlord John that they would be raising his rent by £8000 pa. Understandably John refused to pay, so they have now sold the lease of the pub to Café Rouge, who will convert it into a coffee house, with no live music licence. Apparently the 8 Bells as a public house will cease to exist from this weekend, so if you want a final drink, be quick.

Subject: RE: Tenterden Folk Club on the move
From: synbyn
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 02:27 PM

thanks, Dave- a great pity after so many years, but we'll soldier on... what's the betting that the new regime lasts a very short, uneconomic time and the Bells becomes a development opportunity?

Subject: RE: Tenterden Folk Club on the move
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 03:07 PM

The 8 Bells (if it's the one I'm thinking of, the usual main sinaground at Tenterden) is a very nice pub. I don't like the Vine nearly as much, and indeed last time I was in there as far as I could see it sold keg and lager and funny stuff and wine but no real beer.

I strongly hope that the 8 Bells is listed and is not permitted to be substantially altered.

Subject: RE: Tenterden Folk Club on the move
From: melodeonboy
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:29 PM

Thanks for the info, Dave. A loss for both the folk club and the festival, but I'm pleased to hear that The Vine has shown willingness to support both.

As Jim Royle (of the Royle family) might say: "Cafe Rouge, my arse!"

Subject: RE: Tenterden Folk Club on the move
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 03:40 AM

It's OK Richard, the Vine does sell real ale - Shep's. Though I must say we will miss the Black Sheep that John used to get in for the Festival.