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Northern Belle, Margate


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This pub was renovated in 2023 and has local keg beers from Northdown and oher local breweries. This was originally 2 fisherman's cottages combined about 1680 and previously known as The Waterman's Arm and prior to that The Aurora Borealis. It now takes it's name from the ship that ran aground off North Foreland in 1857.

Historic Interest

This seafarers' tavern takes pride and place as the oldest standing pub in Margate. Found up a tiny lane opposite the stone pier, it has few concessions to modernity. It issued from a combination of two fishermen's cottages, built about 1680, which stood right on the water's edge, it was known as the Waterman's Arms and, before that, the Aurora Borealis. Its present title derives from an American merchant ship which ran aground off North Foreland in 1857. It is said that as the crew were put up at the Belle (then closed) the management decided to reopen the pub with a topical name.

Information for this venue is provided by the Thanet Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Thanet District
Last updated
21/01/2024
Last surveyed
Leasehold owner
individual
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
THA/062
Asset of Community Value

Tucked away up an alley near the seafront this is Margate's oldest pub having been converted from two cottages in 1680. It claims one of the davits on the counter and timbers on the ceiling are from the Northern Belle, an American transatlantic ship that sank near Margate. It has a crackin' public bar - L-shaped with bare wood floor, old dado (and some modern), a counter that looks old but painted black and a bar back that is not that old with only one fridge replacing some lower shelves. The good exterior windows 'Shepherd', 'Neame', 'Fine Ales' on one side and 'Margate's', 'Oldest', 'Pub' are mostly modern. The front left door leads to a small wood floor area with an old part glazed partition wall to the rear of the servery that reaches the ceiling with a doorway for staff, dado panelling looks modern and there is an old bench. A bare wood floored passage with old panelling leads to the rear room. Beyond the public bar and slightly opened-up is a small bare wood floored room with some old dado but lots of new wood, some good bench seating and some modern and a hatch to the side of the servery. Gents has two old Doulton urinals. The 2012 refurbishment carefully respected the original layout and fittings.

Tucked away up an alley near the seafront this is Margate's oldest pub having been converted from two cottages in 1680. It claims one of the davits on the counter and timbers on the ceiling are from the Northern Belle, an American transatlantic ship that sank near Margate. It has a crackin' public bar - L-shaped with bare wood floor, old dado (and some modern), a counter that looks old but painted black and a bar back that is not that old with only one fridge replacing some lower shelves. The good exterior windows 'Shepherd', 'Neame', 'Fine Ales' on one side and 'Margate's', 'Oldest', 'Pub' are mostly modern. The front left door leads to a small wood floor area with an old part glazed partition wall to the rear of the servery that reaches the ceiling with a doorway for staff, dado panelling looks modern and there is an old bench. A bare wood floored passage with old panelling leads to the rear room. Beyond the public bar and slightly opened-up is a small bare wood floored room with some old dado but lots of new wood, some good bench seating and some modern and a hatch to the side of the servery. Gents has two old Doulton urinals. The 2012 refurbishment carefully respected the original layout and fittings.

General information about historic pub interiors
Opening Times Unavailable

Current beers

This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Changing

Changing beers typically include: Shivering Sands (varies) , Wantsum (varies)


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Facilities
Live Music Live Music
sporadically
Garden Garden
outside space
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Accommodation Accommodation
An upstairs short-stay apartment can be booked directly from the pub or through SecondNest.
Smoking Smoking
outside
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (350m)
Many routes operate from Cecil Square
Nearby Station (900m)
Margate

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