The Four Candles
A micropub opens in Broadstairs
The banning of smoking in pubs, introduced in 2007, may have contributed to the demise of a large number of pubs across Thanet. Another piece of legislation may provide the answer to an industry in decline, the 2005 Licensing Act. This law made it far easier to open a pub. Prior to the 2005 Act coming into force, big brewers or pub operating chains would object as a matter of routine to any planning application for a drinking establishment. By the removal of this barrier individuals, especially in East Kent, are opening a number of what is known as micropubs. The premises at 1 Sowell Street, Broadstairs (an ironmonger's previously) is now known as the Four Candles because of the connection between the two Ronnies and Broadstairs. Ronnie Barker is said to have been inspired to write the sketch, Four Candles, on a visit to Broadstairs to see his comedy partner, Ronnie Corbett.Corbett had a holiday home around the corner from H. E. Harrington's general ironmonger's business that is famed far and wide for stocking everything you could possibly ever need. Barker, who wrote under the pseudonym of Gerald Wiley, is known to have noticed Harrington's wide and diverse stock – screws can be bought loose, either singly or in greater numbers; tea urn cleaning brushes are displayed alongside saucepans and potato ricers.This gave him the basis of an idea that he then developed into a sketch that starts with a customer who walks into a hardware store and asks for "four candles".The Sowell Street premises has had a chequered past having gone through several incarnations, one being an ironmonger's shop, and Sowell Street is 13 minutes away from York Street, so it was natural to call the pub after the Two Ronnies' sketch.The Four Candles will not have jukeboxes, no fruit machines and not sell lager. The micropub will sell real ale, mainly from local breweries, cider and wine. That's it. It's not a wine bar, not a gastro pub, not a gin palace or a youth club.The ale house will serve local real ales, and some from further afield, straight from the barrel and specialise in conversation. It is also one less closed-down shop that is no longer an eyesore.Kent appears to be the epicentre. Besides the Butchers in Herne, there is the Conquerer in Ramsgate and the Bake and Alehouse in Westgate on Sea. All micropubs selling local real ale, cider and wine to people who enjoy a chat over a couple of pints before quietly strolling home at a reasonable time to the bosom of their family without causing trouble – no shouting, no fighting.
We are open 5:30-10:30pm Mon-Sat and 12:00-2:30pm Sat and Sun.
