Forget loyalty cards - this micro pub owner has started his very own ‘dis’loyalty card - rewarding people who drink elsewhere.

Ian Goodban of The Freed Man in Walmer, hopes other independent pubs will join him in doing the same in a novel tactic to promote drinking establishments that aren’t tied to big chain breweries.

The way it works is simple. Any of his customers can have a card, and when they visit a micro pub anywhere in the UK, they get it stamped or signed. Once all five spaces are filled (or pint glasses according to the design) they get a free drink.

He said: “I am passionate about micropubs. They are putting back what some of the big pub companies and brewers have taken away, a friendly local offering value and choice for the customer.

“The micro pub is a Kent invention and we have some great ones in towns near here like The Fez and the Two Halves both in Margate.

“They are often filling the gaps left when the big pubs close.

“This is about us all promoting each other. ”

Although his disloyalty card costs nothing but a signature from other pub owners, and it actually encourages people to seek out and use rival bars, the take-up has been slow so far.

“I tried to contact other micro pubs about it and no one got back to me. All they would have needed to do was buy a stamp that would cost about £8.

“But I thought I would do it anyway and when people start going in their pubs asking them to sign the card, hopefully they might think ‘this is a bit different’ and give it a go.”

Joined-up thinking is already part of the Freed Man ethos - Mr Goodban encourages customers to use independent eateries nearby including Hayman’s Kitchen across the road. Drinkers will order the kitchen’s home made pizzas and take them into the bar to eat with their pint.

And it’s not just the die-hard real ale guzzlers he attracts. Thursday night is Ladies Night when any group of ladies gets a platter of food with their drinks - be that wine, gin or lager.

“Many people who frequent micro pubs are Campaign for Real Ale CAMRA members. They know about beers, but others aren’t necessarily beer people.

“I had a pub before (the Deal Hoy in the town’s conservation area) and most of what I sold was lager so that’s what I buyy in, but I don’t go for something like Fosters like I’d have to if I was tied to a brewery, I bring in Belgian beers, something different. I chop and change lagers as much as I change ales.

“There are about 50 breweries in Kent now so there’s so much to choose from.”

Linked to his disloyalty cars are regular micro pub and brewery tours, organised trips by minibus, visiting places like The Old Dairy Brewery in Tenterden and moving on to establishments like Sandgate’s The Indoors and The Ship.

• The Freed Man is at 329 Dover Road, Walmer.