Deborah Haylett
Revival Executive Director
September 2026
I recently sat down with Nick from the Whitstable Thursday Darts League at The Two Brewers, when he visited Revival with another generous donation, this time, £600 for our Community Mental Health Programme.
I wanted to hear more about the people behind the cheque and why they had chosen to support us again. Our conversation took us from Thursday night darts to the role of community pubs, the friendships that grow over the years, and what it means to give something back to your town.
Nick’s answers below have been edited and condensed from our recorded conversation for length and clarity.
What does a community pub mean to you?
Nick: You get regulars coming in for a drink, a coffee or a chat. Sometimes that chat is a chance to share worries, concerns or frustrations. Sometimes someone has had good news and wants to share it with somebody. That’s what it’s all about.
You see generations of families coming through. People feel comfortable and relaxed. They can have a laugh or talk about what’s going on. It can be a sense of relief for a lot of people.
And where does Thursday night darts fit into that?
Nick: We’ve got teams from pubs around the town, with three teams in our pub. For a lot of the people I talk to in the league, they like coming out on a Thursday because they can have a drink, have a laugh and have a chat.
It’s not just about playing darts. It’s about socialising, having a joke and talking to somebody if there’s something you want to talk about. Everybody knows everybody.
At the time of our conversation, Nick estimated that the league had around 95 players across more than a dozen teams, a sizeable network of local people meeting each week.
How did the decision to support Revival again come about?
Nick: We all pay our subscriptions. At the end of the season, at the end of August, we had our AGM. We had money to donate to charities, and it was a case of choosing Revival again.
We’re also supporting Pilgrims Hospice. We want to be able to help them as well.
What feels familiar to you about Revival?
Nick: People come in here, have a coffee, sit down and have a chat. They might talk with somebody who’s sitting there or come in for a group. The pub isn’t too dissimilar.
There are people in the league who know somebody, or have a family member, who has experienced mental illness. They can relate to it. We’re helping the community. The darts league is helping the community. That connection stayed with me. A familiar face and somewhere to talk can matter enormously. At Revival, those everyday opportunities to connect sit alongside our organised mental health and wellbeing support.
How can someone get involved in the league?
Nick: Matches take place every Thursday, starting at 8pm. Players need to sign up with a team. They can contact me or find information and contact details through the Whitstable Darts League Facebook page.
There are teams around the town that may be able to accommodate new players. Anyone interested in starting a team for a future season can get in touch too.
A big thank you from Revival
Thank you to Nick and everyone in the Whitstable Thursday Darts League for choosing to support Revival again. Your £600 donation helps fund our Community Mental Health Programme and the opportunities for support and connection it creates for local people.
It was a pleasure to hear about the friendships behind those Thursday evenings, and the generosity that reaches beyond the darts board.
As Nick put it: “We want to put it back into the community, simple as that.”
