Dating back to 1862 when the house was granted a "beer-on" licence, but only occupied number 13 at the time, and in 1879 the premises acquired the spirit licence after the local neighbourhood put up a petition saying the nearest fully licensed house was quite a walk away.
1885, after Joseph Saunders took the reigns, the pub was enlarged by purchasing next door at number 15, and converted the then
living room into a smoking room. Canterbury brewer George Beer took an interest in the pub during his time between 1885 and 1898 but eventually amalgamated with Faversham brewers Rigdens to become George beer and Rigden in 1922. 1949 saw them taken over by Fremlins and 1967 by Whitbread. Current licensee (2010) Richard Parks whose mother Violet Parks, one time licensee of the "Harbour Inn" married Horace Brickell, the longest reigning licensee of the house, to date. The pub also has a sweet counter for local children as there are no longer any shops nearby that supply local children with such luxuries. Pub in the ghetto of East Cliff, Folkestone, Kent. The place to be at the weekend and all day everyday in the summer. Great local ale's, common beers and not to forget thee BIDDENDENS. Excellent place 10 out of 10. 5star. The place to be for a jolly kness up. I wholeheartedly recommend this little pub; this miniature beacon of joy on Folkestone's East Side. The pure joy of honestly priced, local real ales, bought by the cask and sold until they're gone, means every trip is a different taste sensation: some fantastic beers from Hopdaemon, Gadds, Whitstable Brewery, alongside other Kent and Sussex breweries I've forgotten (my apologies). I could probably remember them better if it wasn't for the Biddendens - a no nonsense Kentish cider at 8% - this pub is one of two in Folkestone that sell it and the other is full of would-be trendies who have no right drinking this apple-based nectar. The atmosphere is fantasic: local characters, old aged and yet not weary of the world, warmly re-tell their life stories night after night - there's always a story, a laugh and a joke to be had at the East Cliff Tavern. The darts team is phenomenal. The entire pub is probably smaller than your front room and all the better for it.
