Six years of searching and I just might just have discovered the Holy Grail, the treasure at the end of the rainbow - the best pub in Kent.

And who’d have thought I’d find it on a back road in Ramsgate, having sat down at the bar next to a man called ‘Cheeky’, who insisted on playing me my favourite song on the jukebox.

I’ve passed this brick-fronted, baronial-style free house a few times but have never previously ventured in, so decided it was time to try the Flying Horse on Park Road.

Neat and tidy, with a huge old-fashioned wooden bar, I was immediately impressed but, as we all know, it’s not the bricks and mortar that make a place, it’s the folks.

It was 6pm on a Wednesday and maybe I was just lucky to find the owner sitting alongside me, although I suspect Tom is partial to spending a little bit of time on this side of the bar.

With a smile as bright as the bar’s polished brass taps he greeted me like a long-lost friend and told me he’s owned the pub for 28 years and is as happy now as when he first took it on.

The barmaid was equally cheery and after a heartfelt greeting, swiftly poured me a Cruzcampo which, I’m pleased to say, cost me the right side of a fiver. I thought she did a good job, but once I’d had a few slugs, Tom popped behind the bar and insisted on topping up my pint to make sure I had a full measure.

At this point, we were joined by another customer who just happened to be carrying a couple of steaks under his arm and our host took these before disappearing out back to the kitchen.

It seems that although this is strictly a wet-led pub, and a darned good one at that, on an odd occasion, Tom takes it upon himself to cook for a few lucky locals, purely out of the goodness of his heart.

Left to my own devices for a moment or two, I took the opportunity to take a look around. The shelf in the bar is weighed down with trophies won, in the main, by the pub’s football team in a local league, but I also spotted a few heartfelt tributes to Flying Horse locals who’ve sadly departed this mortal coil too early.

However, it was only when I walked through the bar and discovered how far it extends out to the back I realised the scale of this place. There’s another large seating area with a dartboard and beyond that a pool table. One guy had wandered in with his cue to take advantage of a quiet time in the pub to practice a few trick shots ahead of a league game later.

Off to the left, through double doors, there is a characterful outdoor area, again with plenty of seating, surrounded by more flint walls, one of which contained an old pub sign, presumably saved from a previous upgrade.

Much of the rest of the place is exactly what you’d expect to find in a well-maintained traditional boozer, there’s a pair of open fireplaces, one at each end of the bar, more than enough fruit machines (three), Cheeky’s jukebox and plenty of wood panelling.

I can report that the gents are equally well maintained as everywhere else, fresh and clean, though you will discover a few very specific signs on the wall and, for some inexplicable reason one of the wooden lower door panels is missing.

When the bairmaid popped out front for a fag I took the opportunity to find out a little more about the Flying Horse and its longstanding owner. She says there’s no better place to work and Tom has been brilliant, she also says it’s one of the few pubs around where there’s never any trouble.

Back in the bar, Tom had reappeared briefly and was carefully placing beer mats on each table and I received a further short lesson on the pub’s history. Apparently, when he took it on in 1996 there used to be an off-sales window where the toilets are now situated. At this point, he sneezed and winced, explaining he’d broken a few ribs when he had a small accident on a scooter.

I had a couple of great pints, a Cruzcampo and a Guinness, both for under a fiver, but with just these, four more lagers and three ciders the place is clearly missing a decent ale on tap – sadly Tom says there’s just no call for it.

Even with this omission, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this quite wonderful free house with a wealth of charm, the warmest of welcomes and some of the best, most down-to-earth, folk I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet in a Kent pub.

THE FLYING HORSE, 50 PARK ROAD, RAMSGATE CT11 9TJ

Décor: As traditional as it’s possible to be but superbly maintained with no pretension whatsoever. A fantastic wet-led pub which clearly delivers exactly what its customers want. *****

Drink: Both the pints I sampled were excellent but there was no ale available on tap so I can’t score this one any higher. That said, I’d still visit the Flying Horse even if it was only for a Fosters! ***

Price: A pint of Guinness was just £4.80 and a Cruzcampo exactly the same price. I assume these were some of the more expensive options and the other lagers and ciders were a bit cheaper. *****

Staff: It was a pleasure to meet both the barmaid and her boss Tom. To see a man as enthused about his pub now as he was when he took it on 28 years ago is nothing short of inspiring. Cheers sir. *****

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