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Margate pub history index
The Britannia, high up on the Fort has a wonderful view over the harbour and one time Jetty, and may add to the claim that this was a hunting lodge belonging to the Cobb's Brewing and Banking family. This hexagonal shaped building is now sited next door to Margate Police Station but in the 19th Century was next door to Cobb's Brewery. Cobb's held the freehold here from at least 1820-1968 when they sold up.
In the early 1900's minstrels would entertain on the forecourt in front of the pub, which is now its car park. There are a huge amount of tunnels under the area and in the cellar of the Britannia is a tunnel entrance reputed to be a smugglers tunnel which led to the nearby Margate Caves. It was used as an entrance tunnel to the Fort air raid shelters during the two World Wars.
The Britannia was one of the pubs used by the rescued heroes landing in Margate after being brought home from Dunkirk 1940.
The pub had emerged unscathed after the war and it was peace time when it was under attack. A projectile smashed through the bedroom window and embedded itself 4 inches in the wall after an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the rotting iron remains of the storm damaged jetty.
A skeleton was found under the floorboards in the 1980's and can be seen, covered by a glass plate, in the main bar. Today the Britannia is famous for being East Kent's Premier Live Music Venue.
at Fort Crescent to 1862, at Fort Hill, Margate in 1874 & 1882 **
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Margate, Kent.
Britannia, Margate
Kindly provided by Suzanne Foad
Residents at this address
1826/7/John Hubbard/../../../Pigots Directory **
1832/John Hubbard/../../../Pigots Directory **
1839/William James Wormall/../../../Pigots Directory **
1841/William Wormall/../../../Census **
1847/Robert Dunk Peal/../../../Bagshaws Directory **
1851/Robert Peal/../../../Census **
1858/Robert Dunk Peal/../../../Melvilles Directory
1861/Robert Dunk Peal/../../../Census **
1862/R D Peal/../../../Post Office Directory
1867/Robert Dunk Peal/../../../Kellys Directory **
1871/Alfred H Grant/../../../Census **
1874/Alfred Henry Grant/../../../Post Office Directory
1881/Alfred H Grant/Licensed Victualler/48/Margate, Kent/Census **
1881/Sarah B Grant/Wife/49/Margate, Kent/Census
1881/Minnie C Grant/Daughter/19/Margate, Kent/Census
1881/Clara M Grant/Daughter/12/Margate, Kent/Census
1881/Emily S Grant/Daughter/9/Margate, Kent/Census
1881/Elizabeth M Hughes/General Servant/16/Margate, Kent/Census
1882/Alfred Henry Grant/../../../Post Office Directory
1890/Alfred H Grant/../../../Post Office Directory **
1891/Alfred H Grant/../../../Census **
1901/Seymour W Brown/../../../Census **
1903/Seymour W Brown/../../..Kellys Directory **
1913/Geo W Mount/../../../Post Office Directory
1922/Joseph Strange/../../../Kellys Directory **
1930/Joseph W Strange/../../../Kellys Directory **
1938/Geo Carter/../../../Kellys Directory **
2018, The Britannia, Fort Hill, Margate, Kent CT9 1HH
** Provided By Susannah Foad