The Prince Albert, Whitstable

As described below, it’s a friendly local, pleasantly devoid of the tourists. It was noisy though, the music being somewhat piercing. The banter had a nice ring to it. There was a barrel of water at the front for the dogs, gaming machines in the bar and a smoking terrace at the back. Two dry pumps on the bar and another dispensing Landlord. Also available were Inch’s cider and Neck Oil. I’d be happy to come back for a pint and to include on a crawl.

A thirties style street corner pub in the heart of the historic centre of Whitstable, close to the shops on one side, and all the marine paraphernalia of oyster central on the other. While we live less than an hour from the town, this is the first time I'd been here socially since the late seventies: I don't think I'd have dared to come into this pub then! Now, however, the Albert is, as my fellow scribe reported, an unpretentious local,catering for shall we say a slightly less fancy trade. On our lunchtime visit on a mildish January Saturday, the pub was comfortably full, with drinkers and family groups. On the bar, alongside the usual fizz founts, were three handpumps, two of which badged with the welcome Gadds rhomboidal pumpclip.Gadds' don't seem to trade in my part of Kent, so I am always glad to try their beer when in East Kent:their seasonal Oatmeal Stout was beautifully soft and chocolaty, and Number 7 a delicious session pale.Our fish 'n' chips were good:nothing fancy. I rather enjoyed this pub: a slight bohemian vibe,not as achingly trendy as some in the town.