Okay it was a Saturday night, okay there was a meat raffle on, but this alone was not enough to explain why the place was filled to the brim, packed with human warmth and oozing bonhomie.

The King William IV on Hastings Road in Pembury is quite simply the most full-on, joyous, pulsating pub I’ve had the pleasure to visit in a very long time.

Someone, somewhere is clearly doing something very right to make this place such a vibrant, welcoming free house and it doesn’t need a genius like me to tell you landlady Siobhan must be at the heart of it.

In amongst the marvelous mayhem there were two big card schools in full swing, teenagers being introduced to the delights of bar billiards by their dads, and fellows, who must have been in since early doors, were chucking darts with gay abandon.

I won’t be rude enough to estimate the age of the oldest punter but at the other end of the scale was a babe-in-arms who looked perfectly at home and mum happily informed me ‘there’s nothing like starting them young’.

The two bar staff were as busy as beavers but it was immediately clear the barmaid was new and taking directions from the far more experienced Mick. Despite being dropped in at the deep end, both Mick and all the regulars demonstrated perfect patience as she soon gained confidence.

I selected a pint of 5.5% IPA Whispering Grass from the Pig & Porter Brewery in nearby Tunbridge Wells and immediately knew I’d found a pint to match the quality of the venue.

I struck up a conversation with a big fellow on a bar stool who was only too happy to fill me in on the history of this place. It used to be a Greene King house until 2018 and had something of a chequered past, since then Siobhan has taken up the reigns and its reputation has grown and grown.

My newfound friend, sporting a baseball cap, was in no doubt it is easily the best pub in the village, though he did accept a Sunday lunchtime, whilst not a cheap option, would be the only time he’d head elsewhere.

I’d taken a ‘When in Rome’ decision and bought a strip of raffle tickets with the hope of taking some meat home to surprise Mrs SD, but sadly my luck, and therefore hers, was not in.

Funnily enough, the crowds did thin out a little following the weekly raffle but the place was still buzzing and I’m told most Saturdays, although not this one, feature live music, which keeps the place packed.

The King William is open from noon each day and doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t, there’s no food here, this is purely a drinkers’ pub, a free house with some darned good ales and a great atmosphere.

There are plenty of interesting items dotted around what is essentially a 200-year-old building, I spotted a row of pewter tankards on a windowsill and a cabinet with shelves stacked full of assorted old stuff. But, the whole place is carpeted, warm, well-furnished and frankly appears fairly modern.

The soundtrack came on just after 7pm and played some good tunes at a decent volume but it could only ever be a background to the main event - young folk, old folk, young-at-heart folk all mixing in and enjoying a great night out.

By now I was more than ready for a second pint and selected another guest ale – this time a 4.8% Fuller’s Horndean Special Bitter. A much darker beast, it had plenty of poke and this deep amber ale delivered a powerful, oaky taste.

I briefly took a seat on the left-hand side of the pub to get a better view and soak up the full atmosphere. Not surprisingly most folk walking through the door knew a good number of those already in, but it didn’t stop them welcoming visitors too.

Wherever you look you will spot links between the pub and its community – there can be no doubt landlady Siobhan, who was brought up in Pembury and remembers her dad drinking here, understands the value of positioning this place at the heart of the village.

It was only following my visit to the King William IV I realised it was number 250 on my Kent pubs reviewed list, but having enjoyed its hospitality it’s fully deserving of the landmark.

KING WILLIAM IV, 87 HASTINGS ROAD, PEMBURY TN2 4JS

Décor: It feels comfortable, smart and modern, though if you look carefully you’ll find tell-tale signs of the building’s centuries-old history. You’ve got to love a pub with a gun above the bar! ****

Drink: The King William prides itself on offering great local ales and both the Whispering Grass IPA and the amber HSB bitter I sampled were excellent. There was plenty of other choices available too. *****

Price: A pint of the Pig & Porter IPA was £4.70 and the Fuller’s HSB £4.60. There’s no food but a packet of Pipers crisps was £1.40. If you did want to go the lager route, a Kronenbourg is £5.10. ****

Staff: Experienced barman Mick was incredibly busy and didn’t stop all evening. However, he still found time to help and support his new barmaid as well as a few moments to share a few words, and a few jokes, with punters. *****

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