At first, I had no clue it even existed, then I realised it was something but I had no idea what, now I’m pleased I visited but I’m still not entirely sure what it is.

Confused? I certainly was.

Now, I’ve known for far too long, and to my cost, Mrs SD has some bizarre antennae allowing her to sniff out anywhere serving wine within a mile radius. However, her eagle eyes don’t usually give her the same sense for an establishment pulling pints.

So when we walked passed what looked like a modern development of flats on Sandwich Road, Cliffsend and she exclaimed, ‘I think that’s a pub’. I was highly suspicious but she was convinced she’d spotted taps through a window, so it would have been rude not to take a closer look.

A delivery driver was walking out as we approached the sliding door and, for some reason, gave us a thumbs up sign but it still wasn’t clear what he was approving of.

A trendy metal printed sign reading Njord didn’t help greatly, but it did say café–bar underneath so in we went.

And, joy of joys – because it’s always nice to discover something by accident, particularly at 5.30 on a Friday evening, there was a bar at the far end of the room.

A young staff member, taking a year off from drama school, was quick to enquire what we’d like and, perhaps because she’d seen the tap, Mrs SD went for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil. I know the price of this ubiquitous IPA can vary enormously but surely it had to be cheaper than a large Sav Blanc?

But is it a pub? There was a bowl of tulips on the bar and cakes under glass domes (which looked really good), all the staff were dressed like Ninjas, it was busy by 6pm and had hi-vis exponents already on the scene at 5.30pm.

One guy, who popped in for a pair of takeaway pizzas, found time for a swift Guinness, served from a high-tech machine which requires loading with a specialist can of the black stuff.

One barmaid told us it opened in September 2023 but agreed it isn’t well signposted and plenty of potential passing trade could easily pass by without noticing it. However, the locals seem to absolutely love Njord and support it in considerable numbers.

For many folk, the sea view opposite would be enough to drag them in but as one fellow alongside us at the bar noted, most locals are spoiled with a view like that from home anyway so that’s not the real draw.

The eagle-eyed shopper in our household noticed the nut mix they serve is from Waitrose but surely it can’t be the upmarket snacks that is pulling punters in? It’s obviously set up to cater for café society earlier in the day and there’s no place for a fruit machine, pool table, dartboard, a jukebox or anything like that but there was music playing in the background and when I listened in, I was delighted with a lesser-known Oasis track, Columbia.

The décor is modern and clean-cut, as you’d expect, in a new place with plenty of designer lightbulbs and there are some very well thought-through touches – the tubular shelving is practical and attractive and I particularly liked the way each table is beautifully marked with the venue’s unusual name.

Fittingly for its setting, there was an RNLI collection box on the bar and I did see a small, unobtrusive TV screen at one end, giving the option to show sport when it’s taking place.

Njord is a spacious, well set out bar/café that caters for all, young or old, two legs or four, though the bar area is a little tighter on space and a bit of friendly shuffling is required to get a window seat.

There is a single toilet cubicle which caters for everyone and it is absolutely superbly presented and maintained.

I reckon the proof is in the pudding and the locals all seem to love, and be supporting, Njord (whatever it might be – bar, café or pub). It was busy and vibrant when we were in and I only heard positive comments from staff and customers alike.

I suspect the reason it isn’t better advertised - ie. a bigger sign on the wall and A boards out front - may lie in planning conditions when it was created but if this is not the case my advice to the owner/s would be start shouting about this all-rounder of a place a lot more.

PS: I’ve just checked online and in Norse mythology, Njord is a god associated with the sea, winds and prosperity.

NJORD, 123A SAXON REACH, SANDWICH ROAD, CLIFFSEND, RAMSGATE CT12 5JB

Décor: Slick, superbly maintained and modern. Tulips on the bar and trendy shelving with smart furniture. And I, for one, thought the view out the front window was magnificent. ****

Drink: Marked as a pub you’d have to say it could do with an ale, but if you see Njord as the local all-rounder it’s seeking to be, the bar offers an excellent selection and caters for its customers extremely well. ****

Price: A pint of Neck Oil was less than a large wine, but not by much – Neck Oil £6.30, large Bella Modella Pinot £7.40, a Cruzcampo was £5.70. Not cheap granted, but cheaper than many pubs I’ve visited recently. ****

Food: I can’t give a mark for this one as we didn’t eat but I saw the stone-baked sourdour pizzas coming out and I’m going back to try one.

Staff: Including the kitchen, there were five staff members on shift, all dressed neatly in head-to-toe black and all working efficiently. Our barmaid was friendly and happy to chat – she was also a big fan of where she works. *****

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