Witches from Whitstable, a barman who plays Bohemian Rhapsody on the piano and a beer brought in especially for Halloween – what’s not to like?

The Monument on Church Street is a little off the beaten track and it was a wet and windy Tuesday evening, so I wasn’t expecting the place to be packed.

I entered quietly via the back door and walked through the dining room to reach the front bar, where I immediately encountered a large group of lively women holding sharp-pointed missiles.

Fortunately it was ladies’ darts evening and home team Whitstable Witches, and their opposition from Swanley, seemed in full control of their arrows.

There were two draught beers on offer, Sharp’s Sea Fury and, to mark Allhallowtide, Wychwood Brewery’s famous ruby ale Hobgoblin. Barman Niall suggested I try both, which I was happy to do, and although the Sea Fury was perfectly palatable the Oxfordshire Brewery’s 4.5% ale was a clear winner.

The Witches remained huddled in their allocated area, surrounding not a cauldron, but a covered pool table converted into a match day dining table for what was a very decent-looking spread. This left the bar free for just me and one lone drinker, 28-year-old Adam, sitting on a stool at the bar. I should mention that unlike some anti-social places, the stools here are spaced sensibly to allow punters plenty of room to place their order.

Adam said he was surprised to find it so quiet but Niall reminded him it was raining, Halloween and there was a local football match taking place.

Befitting for October 31, there were some highly-effective Halloween decorations but it hadn’t been overdone and all the pub’s usual furniture and fittings were in excellent order.

It was 9pm and cleaning had already begun in earnest with flip-flopped barmaid Lyndsay wielding a mop impressively. And, as she cleaned, she sang along gustily to Queen’s most popular tune before jigging away to a Dire Straits’ song.

When Niall told her he’d taught himself to play piano during lockdown and could play Bohemian Rhapsody she reckoned he should be signed up to perform in the pub one night.

Lyndsay put down her bleach and hung up her mop to finish her shift at 9.30pm and bid everyone a goodnight before flip-flopping into the rain. As she walked out she was replaced by a double force of nature.

Brother and sister, Jamie and Chloe, might have arrived late but they immediately introduced themselves, shook hands with everyone and turned up the volume control considerably.

Subjects covered in the first 18 minutes of feisty debate included the appalling state of Wetherspoons and its even more appalling customers, Israel v Gaza, the state of the NHS, free pool on a Friday here after noon, Clive at the Hungry Horse, freestyling and bad face tattoos in Canterbury.

The discussion was heartfelt and full-on but Jamie did occasionally do his best to cool down Chloe’s more colourful language.

Personally, I was pleased a little more life had been injected into my visit to The Monument as I reckon this is a bit of a hidden gem and has a lot going for it. Okay, it knows how to charge Whitstable prices, £6.10 for a Madri and £2.50 for a sausage roll, but it’s got loads going for it and I’m sure it can often boast a lively atmosphere.

And there are some lovely little touches: beer mats on tables, dog treats on the bar, 10% off food prices for CT5 residents Monday to Thursday and it shows plenty of live sport.

This is a pub which seems to have created a balance between a proper bar for those wanting to enjoy a pint with their mates while they watch the footie and a dining area where families and groups of friends can enjoy a meal without facing too much disturbance.

The toilets are superbly maintained and look as if they’ve been redecorated fairly recently.

Even the smoking ‘shack’ at the back of the pub contains smart-looking furniture and, from what I could see, appeared a remarkably comfortable outdoor space.

Jamie and Chloe are strongly convinced this is a far better place to be than Spoons and ordered another round of double spirits with energy drink mixers.

I certainly don’t consider myself a pub snob, but I think I must agree with them that, despite the extra pressure on my wallet, I’m glad I spent Halloween here.

The Monument, 32 Church Street, Whitstable CT5 1PH

Decor: I know cleaning was already underway by the time I got there, but everything about The Monument was beautifully kept and well presented. ****

Drink: Good to see a choice of draught beers available and I can heartily recommend a pint of Hobgoblin, though it may not last too long after Halloween. ****

Price: It might not be on the seafront but The Monument still knows how to charge Whitstable prices – the Hobgoblin was £5.50 and a Madri £6.10. The sausage rolls looked good, but they were £2.50 each. **

Staff: The perfect division of labour, Niall manned the bar while Lyndsay did just about everything else until her shift ended at 9.30pm. They both worked hard but still found time for a friendly word and the occasional joke. *****

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