C’mon let’s party – you could hear the racket from the bar right down the road and it was only 4.30pm, so presumably they like an early start in this part of town.

The Prince of Wales on Mortimer Street in Herne Bay is a proper old-school street corner boozer but whatever direction you approach it from, you can’t help but be sucked into the raucous cauldron of noise, heat and love of life pouring out of the door.

POETS day had been taken seriously and the lively bar was packed with scruffy shorts, work boots and men who feel comfortable in them.

Lager of all varieties was flying down throats and guys who’d toiled all week were competing to see who could raise the decibel level highest. If the jukebox had been playing it had long since given up trying to compete.

I decided right then, ‘If you can’t beat them…’ ordered a pint of Estrella and asked the barmaid if she was looking forward to a full-on Friday night?

She replied: “Sure, I finish at five and move to the other side of the bar”.

A cake had appeared on the bar for some hard-working bloke called Chris but when he claimed it was his 28th birthday the noise level rose even higher and all credibility was lost.

I escaped briefly to the quieter side of the pub and was surprised to meet a suited and booted gent at the bar with a tie and an impressive leather satchel.

He was, of course, not a regular and introduced himself as Steve Hearn, a caricaturist down from Essex, who was booked to work the nearby King’s Hall later that evening.

We agreed this is exactly how a pub should be and, saying how much he liked the place, he bemoaned the fact his own county doesn’t have such interesting boozers.

There were no kids in the pub, and I found it hard to picture them in these surroundings, but there were several signs making it clear children are not allowed in this Shepherd Neame house after 7pm.

My new Essex mate even persuaded me to save myself 80p by switching to the pint he was on and I somewhat reluctantly ordered a pint of Smooth. Maybe it was the upbeat atmosphere, or perhaps this was a particularly good example of the 3.5% Sheps’ session ale, but it was tasty and slipped down very easily.

The centre of the pub has a great old dark brown wooden bar and the pub is full of wonderful touches, the parquet flooring in the side room, a yucca-type plant with a mind of its own and a stack of old photographs, not to mention a proper pub carpet.

I’ve been in many good Sheps’ pub, and a few decidedly ropey ones, but this is not just in the first category, it’s very high up the list.

The aforementioned side room, which must be great for private parties, is huge and also houses the pool table, with acres of space around it, as well as two dartboards and a solitary fruit machine by the door of the gents.

While I’m on the subject of the gents, it seemed clean and fresh enough, although an open window wouldn’t have done any harm.

There was also a door that led through to a decent-sized outdoor beer garden at the back of the pub. This was well maintained, with plenty of seating, and I bet it is well used when the rest of the pub is busy.

The TV screens, which are plentiful around the pub, weren’t switched on but I’m sure they’re all utilised when there’s a sporting event worth showing. There’s even a screen over the bar itself.

I wouldn’t usually take photographs of blokes’ feet, but I couldn’t help taking a quick shot of the smart leather shoes on one side and the sandals worn by the fellow he’d chosen to chat to. For me, nothing sums up this Shepherd Neame pub better than two totally different guys getting together to enjoy a pint and the craic in a convivial setting.

The whole time I was in I kept being assured the rowdy, raucous rapscallions would be moving on shortly but for me, and my new friend from Essex, they were exactly what made the Prince of Wales the pub it is and we were more than happy for them to remain.

I can put my hand on my heart and say I’ve never experienced such a lively and exhilarating atmosphere at a pub this early in the evening and it was a true breath of fresh air.

I hope the evening at the Kings Hall went well Steve, it was a pleasure to meet you.

PRINCE OF WALES, MORTIMER STREET, HERNE BAY CT6 5HE

Decor: A proper old-pub feel with all sorts of interesting items dotted around and plenty to spark the interest of visitors and regulars alike. You’ve got to love a yucca plant doing its own thing. *****

Drink: I had to start with a lager and the Estrella was a decent enough lager. The pint of Smooth, which I was persuaded to switch to by a man from Essex, was better than I expected. ***

Price: The Estrella was £5.20, but the Smooth was cheaper at £4.40 and maybe I shouldn’t have been quite so quick to go with the crowd. ****

Staff: Getting the balance right between being efficient and attentive is important behind a bar this busy, particularly this early in the evening and both the barmaid and barman were spot on. *****

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