The Samuel Peto

The Samuel Peto is a pub in Folkestone, Kent, England, operated by the national pub company J D Wetherspoon plc. It occupies the site of the former Salem Chapel at 23 Rendezvous Street, Baptist Galleries, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1EY, and takes its name from Samuel (later Sir Samuel) Morton Peto, the Victorian railway contractor and Baptist who largely funded the new chapel through a loan. Peto's firm laid around 750 miles of track in England and more than 2,300 miles globally, and also built Nelson's Column in London; he served as an MP for more than 20 years before resigning his seat in 1866 after being declared technically insolvent, despite being owed more than £1 million in unpaid debts. As a Wetherspoon house, The Samuel Peto follows the chain's standard format: a large, value-focused pub offering an extensive food and drink menu, real ales, and a range of promotions. The pub's own page lists facilities including Wi-Fi, TV screens and step-free access, and notes that children under 18 may only be on the premises between 8:00am and 9:00pm. Opening hours run from 8:00am daily, closing at midnight Sunday to Thursday and at 1:00am on Friday and Saturday. Customers can order food and drinks to their table via the Wetherspoon app. The pub participates in Wetherspoon's twice-yearly beer festivals; the official site highlights an autumn beer festival running from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October, featuring 30 real ales including five from international brewers in China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA — the first time brewers from Singapore and Ukraine have taken part. Other seasonal activity includes a Christmas menu available from Thursday 12 November until Thursday 31 December (excluding Christmas Day), a spritz cocktail range of nine classic and fruity recipes, guest ale and craft tasting notes, and dishes such as the Hot honey Chicken Bowl. Inside the pub, plaques commemorate figures connected with the former chapel, including the Rev. William Sampson, pastor for thirteen years, and Mr William Harvey Stace. The pub is part of J D Wetherspoon plc, the UK pub company founded by Tim Martin, whose first pub opened in 1979 in Muswell Hill, north London, and which was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1992.

The Samuel Peto occupies the site of the former Salem Chapel in Folkestone. According to the pub's official history, the new Salem Chapel was funded largely by a loan from Samuel (later Sir Samuel) Morton Peto, a Baptist and one of the great Victorian railway contractors. Peto's company was responsible for laying around 750 miles of track in England and more than 2,300 miles globally, and also built Nelson's Column in London. Peto served as an MP for more than 20 years, resigning his seat in 1866 after being declared technically insolvent, although he was owed more than £1 million in unpaid debts. The building retains memorials to figures associated with the chapel. A plaque in the pub commemorates the Rev. William Sampson, who was for thirteen years the beloved pastor of the church and whose energy and perseverance were mainly responsible for the sanctuary's erection. A similar plaque commemorates Mr William Harvey Stace. The pub now operates as part of J D Wetherspoon plc, the UK pub company founded by Tim Martin. Wetherspoon's first pub opened on 9 December 1979 in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, initially called Martin's Free House for its first month before being renamed Wetherspoons in early 1980. The company's early pubs were all in north London, with the head office above The Dog in Archway. In 1990 Wetherspoon's pubs hosted their first real-ale festival, lasting four days and featuring six beers; today each Wetherspoon pub takes part in the twice-yearly beer festival, offering up to 50 beers each, 10 of which are from overseas. In 1991 the company opened The Tally Ho in North Finchley with a dedicated non-smoking bar upstairs, began its CBS (cleanliness, beer and service) scheme, produced the first edition of Wetherspoon News, and opened Hamilton Hall at Liverpool Street station — its first central London and train station pub. In 1992 it opened its first airport pubs at Heathrow Terminal 4 and was floated on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60. As a Wetherspoon house, The Samuel Peto follows the chain's operating model, including the Wetherspoon app for ordering to the table, participation in the twice-yearly beer festivals, and seasonal menus. The pub's official page highlights an autumn beer festival from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October, with 30 real ales including five from international brewers in China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA — the first time brewers from Singapore and Ukraine have been involved. It also promotes a Christmas menu available from Thursday 12 November until Thursday 31 December (excluding Christmas Day), a spritz cocktail range of nine recipes, guest ale and craft tasting notes, and the Hot honey Chicken Bowl.

• The new Salem Chapel in Folkestone is funded largely by a loan from Samuel (later Sir Samuel) Morton Peto.

• Samuel Morton Peto resigns his seat as an MP after being declared technically insolvent, though he was owed more than £1 million in unpaid debts.

• Wetherspoon's first pub opens on 9 December in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, initially called Martin's Free House.

• The first pub is renamed Wetherspoons early in the year.

• Wetherspoon's pubs host their first real-ale festival, lasting four days and featuring six beers.

• The Tally Ho opens in North Finchley with a dedicated non-smoking bar upstairs; the CBS scheme and Wetherspoon News are launched; Hamilton Hall opens at Liverpool Street station.

• Wetherspoon opens its first airport pubs at Heathrow Terminal 4 and is floated on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60.

• The Samuel Peto's autumn beer festival runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October, featuring 30 real ales including five from international brewers in China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA.

• The Christmas menu is available at Wetherspoon's pubs from Thursday 12 November until Thursday 31 December (excluding Christmas Day).

Value-focused community pub within the J D Wetherspoon national chain, set in a historic former Baptist chapel.

• Real ale

• Guest ales and craft cans

• Spritz cocktails

• Christmas menu

• Hot honey Chicken Bowl

1. 1The Samuel Peto - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Samuel Peto - J D Wetherspoon (pub history)jdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 5The Samuel Peto - Wikidatawikidata.org