South Eastern Hotel, 8 Barden Road, Tonbridge TN9 1TX
at Station Road in 1874; This pub was renamed Mojo’s Bar in 2008 after a period as the Station House. **
Directory of Pubs in the UK, London historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Tonbridge, Kent .
Tonbridge pub history index
South Eastern, 8 Barden Road, Tonbrigdge - in October 2009
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address
In the year of 1865, two small cottages facing on to what had been the old
Turnpike Road to Tunbridge Wells, were bought by Benjamin Baker, a brewer of
Rocky Hill (now Waterloo Road). Opposite, until this year when it was
demolished, had stood a small round brick lock-up, where many a drunkard had
passed an uncomfortable night.
The two cottages were rapidly demolished and the brewer proceeded to erect a
small beer house. The first license was successfully applied for on the 28th
August 1866 and granted to the “South Eastern Hotel”, a rather grandiloquent
title for such a diminutive property, for its frontage to the road was a mere 15
feet 6 inches.
Its sign depicting the arms of the South Eastern Railway Company is a pleasing
blend of colour, and no doubt commemorates the close proximity of this house to
the line of the S.E.R. It was not long before this small beer house started to
grow, and like Topsy it just growed and growed. Two adjoining cottages were
leased in 1872 to enlarge the front of the premises; these were purchased
outright in 1882. While three more cottages at the rear were bought and
demolished in 1887, enabling the yard and the back premises of the hotel to be
enlarged.
The first recorded landlord is a George Porter, who while not employed behind
the bar attending to the thirst of his customers, was equally busy as an engine
driver on the S.E.R. It is of passing interest to note that George Porter was
the owner of the two small cottages, which had been demolished in 1865 to make
way for the hotel.
A quick succession of landlords, six in as many years, brings us to the advent
of the Breeze family who made the hotel both home and business for over 88
years.
George Breeze was not a very healthy man and had retired from the excitement of
the busy George Inn at Brighton on his doctor’s orders. But the quieter life at
Tonbridge had not the hoped for effect, and after some four months he died at
the early age of 37. The Justices transferred the license to his widow, Sarah
Breeze and for two years she managed the hotel alone, but no doubt feeling the
necessity for a man at her side to control any riotous elements, she married for
a second time. Her husband, Joseph Shipway was granted a transfer of license
from his wife in 1880. In the year 1883 the breeze family moved out of the
hotel, and Edward Mann became its host; this was to be but a brief interlude,
for in 1885 Luther John Breeze transferred from the Bell Inn, Southborough, and
the South Eastern hotel was once more under the Breeze management. Luther Breeze
continued to dispense a genial hospitality for the astonishingly long period of
34 years.
In 1919 the license was transferred to his brother George Hemsley Breeze who
carried on the management of the hotel in the best traditions of his family for
six years. Then in 1925 his widow, Rachel Reynolds Breeze took over the helm of
this family concern running it successfully until 1927, when her son, George
Reynolds Breeze became the seventh member of his family, and the third George to
be landlord of this house. During the war years 1942-1945 his wife, Alice
Dorothy Breeze cheerfully took over while George himself was serving his
country. A genial and friendly host, George Breeze has not only achieved his
late uncle’s record of 34 years as landlord, but has created a new record by
adding to date (1965) a further 4 years, bringing his service to 38 years, which
also makes him the longest serving landlord in the Tonbridge area. **
1874/Henry Backhurst/../../../Post Office Directory
October 1877/George Breeze (1840-1877) who was bitten by a customer and
subsequently died! The newspaper reports he had been the landlord for just a few
months, previously having been at the George Inn, Brighton. Death was through
delirium tremens, from a bite to his leg, and chronic alcoholism. *
1881/Joseph Shipway/Licensed Victualler/53/Avebury, Wiltshire/Census
1881/Sarah Shipway/Wife/38/Franfield, Sussex/Census
1881/Sarah Breeze/Daughter/14/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1881/Kate Breeze/Daughter/12/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1881/George Breeze/Son/8/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1881/Alice Markwick/Niece/8/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1881/James Burgess/Lodger, Shoemaker/47/Tonbridge, Kent/Census
1881/James Tingley/Lodger, General Labourer/36/Bidboro, Kent/Census
1882/Joseph Shipway/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Luther J Breeze/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Luther J Breeze/Licensed Victualler/26/Brighton, Sussex/Census *
1891/Sarah Breeze/Mother, Housekeeper/52/Framfield, Sussex/Census
1891/Sarah J Breeze/Sister, Barmaid/24/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1891/Kate E Breeze/Sister, Barmaid/22/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1891/George H Breeze/Brother, Clerk/18/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1901/Luther J Breeze/Licensed Victualler/36/Brighton, Sussex/Census *
1901/Sarah Jane Breeze/Mother, Widow/62/Framfield, Sussex/Census
1901/Lilian Markwick/Cousin/24/Framfield, Sussex/Census
1901/Catherine Weston/Servant/33/Wadhurst, Sussex/Census
1903/Luther John Breeze/../../../Kelly’s Kent Directory **
South Eastern Hotel, 8 Barden Road, Tonbridge - in 1907
The members in the photograph are unknown, Rachel Reynolds, George Hemsley Breeze, Doris Millicent Breeze, unknown, unknown - rear
Cissie May Breeze and George Reynolds Breeze - front
Kindly provided by Tim
1911/Luther John Breeze/Licensed Victualler/47/Brighton, Sussex/Census
1911/Agatha Emma Breeze/Wife, Assistant/37/Sevenoaks, Kent/Census
1911/Joan Agatha Breeze/Daughter/5/Tonbridge, Kent/Census
1911/Madeline Breeze/Daughter/3/Tonbridge, Kent/Census
1911/Grace Charlotte Wenham/Cousin, Assistant/28/Sevenoaks, Kent/Census
1911/Emmie Gates/General Servant/19/Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire/Census
1918/Luther John Breeze/../../../Post Office Directory
November 1926/The death is reported of Luther John Breeze, eldest son of the late George Breeze.
1938/George Reynolds Breeze/../../../Post Office Directory
2022, The Station House, 8 Barden Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1TX, Craft Union - Stonegate pubs
* Provided By Tim
* Provided By Tim & written by Douglas G Elliott, Honourary Archivist,
Tonbridge
Provided By Stephen Harris
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