PubsandBeer

History: Home > The Monument

The Monument (Free House)

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Cellar Head - FiresideExcellent1
Wantsum - Black PigExcellent1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's AleExcellent1
Cellar Head - Hop Project #7 Summer PaleGood1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop ErnestGood1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Good2
Wantsum - HurricaneGood1
Schweiger - Hofmeister HellesGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopGood1
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew BitterAcceptable1
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale AleNot Tried0
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)Not Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish BestNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Summer PaleNot Tried0
Iron Pier - BitterNot Tried0
Cellar Head - India Pale AleNot Tried0
Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery)Not Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller'sNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

Visits Details

26 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
8th visit of the outing: We found this 1803 pub, though its building is believed to have been standing for some 400 years, a bit further up St Dunstan's Street walking even further away from Canterbury West railway station and the old walled town of Canterbury itself. The pub is named after a large wooden cross which did not survive long enough to see in the advent of photography but it was there to welcome pilgrims to Canterbury after their journey from London by road and before the railways were invented. Just the three real ales on but pleased to see a local brew here as in from Canterbury Ales, based south-west of Canterbury and north-east of Chartham, and for the first time on all our visits on this outing. When local to it, I simply had to try it but many have I sampled in other watering holes such as a certain micro in East Greenwich and at least the odd one or two on the Isle of Thanet. A warm welcome for our now early evening visit and not too busy for seating to aid resting our weary bones after our afternoon's wholesome real ale pilgrimage!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale4.30ExcellentVery good head and lacing and lasting to the very end on this Kentish session IPA. A fruit-infused hoppy first kick to it from its 100% Kent hops, Jester and East Kent Golding. A dry fruity hoppiness rising up and prevailing throughout. Not overly sweet with its honey-like fruitiness. Its hoppy bitter dryness winning over my taste buds. Very moreish!
Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery)4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's3.40Not Tried
09 Sep 2023 (Ian)
Pleasant updated modern pub but still with an older pub feel
BeerABVScoreNotes
Schweiger - Hofmeister Helles5.00GoodFresh yeast aroma. Some malt character light earthyness some lemon crisp
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00Not Tried
09 Sep 2023 (Andrew)
We sat in the garden with a huge sun shade protecting us from the roasting sun. Ian had his best mate; lager.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40GoodA nice pint of hophead. Has the hop profile changed again?
Cellar Head - India Pale Ale5.00Not Tried
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00Not Tried
05 Sep 2023 (Jack William)
Mid evening. Quiet. A few in the courtyard garden.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wantsum - Hurricane4.50Good
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00Not Tried
18 Jul 2023 (Jack William)
Evening visit. The pub was pleasantly busy. With my wife - good vibe to this place and some good ales at ok prices.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest4.20GoodNicely bitter for a pale ale.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Iron Pier - Summer Pale4.20Not Tried
26 Aug 2022 (Jack William)
Early evening drink for my wife and I. Pleasantly busy, customers spread around the nooks and crannies and the garden. We appreciated the painting by local artist Henry Cockburn, it had a feel of van Gogh about it I thought.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Good
Cellar Head - Hop Project #7 Summer Pale4.20Good
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
10 Dec 2021 (ChrisE)
We came here after readin Jack Williams' excellent review on this site. A nice comfortable pub with excellent beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wantsum - Black Pig4.80Excellent
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
19 Nov 2021 (Jack William)
Lunchtimes, quiet. Meeting an old friend - we sat by the window and watched the world go by. Landlord very knowledgeable about his beers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cellar Head - Fireside5.20ExcellentJust on, a great winter ale.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Good
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best3.70Not Tried
24 Oct 2021 (Jack William)
Sunday afternoon. At least the second incarnation since I was last here. Now a Freehouse having been purchased from Sheps. The insides have been transformed - almost to wine bar standards, the garden has been made over as well and is much larger than I remember. A few other customers in - but not busy - it deserves to do better.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)4.60Not TriedJust ran out unfortunately - haven’t tried this yet.
20 Oct 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Feels like a bit of TLC needed here from state of the brass on the handpump bases and the curled up bar counter rubber runners.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70AcceptableProbably first out for a while
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale3.90Not Tried

[More Visits]

About The Monument

The pub sign. The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent4
Good8
Acceptable1
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8BZ.

Mid-terrace pub in St Dunstan's Street - single main bar leading to a garden (has in the past had with bat and trap). Sold by Shepherd Neame into private hands and re-opened after a significant refurbishment on 11th June 2021. 3 handpumps.

We have visited this pub 11 times, seen 21 different beers and tried 12 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT2 8BZ