A popular pub in Whitstable has defended its 10% discount for locals after a customer from Herne Bay complained it is being subsidised by out-of-towners.

The Monument in Church Street runs an initiative slashing the food bills of punters with a CT5 postcode, with its aim to encourage people to spend money on their doorstep and cut their carbon footprint.

But one disgruntled customer from neighbouring Herne Bay says the offer discriminates against non-locals.

David Driscoll, 78, visited the pub last month with his daughter for a lunchtime meal.

“I purchased some drinks, settled down with the menu, then was asked if I was a resident of Whitstable,” he said.

“I said I was a Herne Bay man, so the barman said I would be paying 10% more [than Whitstable residents], and this is their policy.

“It was quite surreal really. I’m 78 and I have never experienced it in my life, and I’m a pub man.

“It’s like saying Whitstable people are more valid.

“It just hurt me because I thought, ‘hold on – you’re not encouraging anyone else to come here and everyone who comes in is subsidising Whitstable people’.

“The prices were OK, but I thought they were not encouraging people to come back.”

Sarah Hadler, who runs the pub, said the offer was “not meant to be discriminatory” and was similar to discounts for NHS workers.

It was introduced following the first lockdown last year and applies to food bills from Monday to Thursday.

“It’s not something that is unique to us,” she said.

“There are pubs in the Kent area that do a discount.

“We put it in place because we want to keep Whitstable people in Whitstable to reduce their carbon footprint. With Cop26 at the moment, it’s all quite topical.”

“We introduced it when we reopened after the first lockdown,” she added. “Previous tenants have had similar things in place.

“I know when I worked for someone else here there was a 20% off offer.”

Mrs Hadler added she was happy to discuss any concerns with Mr Driscoll personally.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent