THE CLUBHOUSE

14 Priory Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9RG

Tel: +44 (0)1304 204722

The Birth of the Club

A meeting was held in the Dover Promenade Pier Pavilion on the 31st October 1903 when the Mayor, Councillor F. Wright was in the chair, supported by the Deputy Mayor Councillor J. Bussey and the Reverend Gregory Bestall. There was a good attendance of anglers and it was unanimously agreed to form a society called "The Dover Sea Angling Association". The meeting elected the Reverend J. Carter Browne DD Chairman, with a committee of twelve people to formulate a list of rules which were approved at a General Meeting held on Friday November 20th 1903.  (Taken from the original Minute Book 0f 1903)

An angling competition for members was held on Thursday 17th December and was won by Mr Stansfield with a weight of 5lb3ozs and the first social function, a smoking concert took place at the Esplanade Hotel, and was adopted as the Club Headquarters on Thursday 14th January 1904.

The Association has been actively engaged in Angling and Social activities since that time, except for an interruption during the Second World War, but recommenced on the 18th May 1945 with HQ and Committee at the Eagle Hotel, London Road, Dover.

For many years, the Associations' HQ was the Clock Tower at the entrance to the Prince of Wales Pier but at the end of 1975 a decision was taken to purchase a semi-derelict building at the rear of the main Post Office in the centre of Dover for the purposes of repair and alteration to build an Angling Centre and Club Headquarters. It was officially opened following voluntary work carried out by DSAA members and friend in November 1976.

The Association is run with Bar facilities on a full time basis and has a membership of some 700 Anglers, of whom 40 are Juniors under 16 years of age, with an additional 750 members who have the use of the Bar and social facilities only. Associate membership is restricted, but Anglers from any part of the country are eligible to apply for membership on a full or temporary basis for visitors and details may be obtained from the Membership Registration Secretary at the Association HQ, or fill out the Membership Form.

Following discussions in 1978/9, premises were acquired in Snargate Street and converted into a storage and weighing-in centre for our own, and visiting club use. Plans were approved for re-development of the whole site in 1986 but were shelved the following year, only to be resurrected in 1995.

In 1987, the Admiralty Pier suffered extensive structural damage during the 'Hurricane' resulting in the loss of this vital fishing venue due mostly to the fiscal policies of The Dover Harbour Board.  The Board approached the Association and a 15 year repair and maintenance contract was negotiated (now renewed).  At the time, this was the largest and most technically difficult project ever undertaken by the Association.  Repairs to the First Half included renewing the concrete walkway, rebuilding the toilet block and recasting reproduction Victorian cast iron posts.  These works were undertaken by sub-contractors and overseen by the Association.  The cost of repairing the First Half was £55,000 and works were completed in four months and re-opened in December 1989 by Robert Atkins M.P., who was Minister for Sport at the time.  The Second Half involved the cutting out of 300 metres of the damaged concrete of the suspended gallows support and rebuild 100 metres of rainwater gullies.  Further recasting of the iron posts was required and finally to erect approximately 1 mile of A.M.S.A. fencing (landwards) fixed to spring metal posts (2.4 metres high) in an attempt to minimise wave damage and provide security to Cross Channel and subsequently Cruise Liner activities.  The whole Second Half of the Pier was undertaken by members Alan Barker and Barry Stevens and was completed in 5 months at a cost of £122,000.  This section was re-opened in March 1992 by Captain Peter White, the then Harbour Master for The Dover Harbour Board. The Pier is open to members and non-members daily with different opening hours for Winter and Summer months.  Check out the Pier Information page for up to date details. There is also a Kiosk serving hot and cold drinks, hot dogs, burgers, crisps, chocolate etc. The Kiosk is open 10am-2pm daily, 7pm-12 midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings during the Winter, with extended hours during the Summer.

How to Find Us:    via UK Multimap.com or via Streetmap.co.uk

Why not join the Club? 

Membership of Dover Sea Angling Association is £15 (Joint £16), £7.50 for Senior Citizens (Joint £8.50) and £7 for Juniors (under 16). Full Membership entitles anglers to fish the Admiralty Pier and Southern Breakwater at a reduced fee. There are many Pier and Boat competitions for Senior and Juniors, and use of the Clubhouse at 14 Priory Road, Dover.  Associate Membership is also available with use of the Clubhouse and free entry to the Admiralty Pier for promenade purposes on production of a valid Membership Card.