In 1833, during John Hopper’s tenure as land-lord, “The Red Lion” was renamed “The Phoenix”. In December of 1832 John Pemberton Plumptre of Fredville had been elected to Parliament as one of the two Eastern Kent M.P’s., the other being Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt. and a celebration dinner was held at “The Red Lion” on February 4th, 1833. The election success may have been the reason for the ale-house being renamed “The Phoenix” as the Plumptre coat of arms had a phoenix crest.
J.P. Plumptre served as an M.P. from December 1832 until January, 1852.