‘ If anyone says thatt they don’t get scared, they’re lying’

another, prompting Oli to tell his colleagues on the door over a walkie talkie not to allow them in. The group protest the decision when they try to enter, but soon amble away towards the centre of town.

“They would probably have caused trouble if we let them in,” Oli remarks.

The doormen’s ability to recognise faces is also evident. “You become good with faces,” Pete says, “which is why I’m looking at you now thinking I recognise you from somewhere.” Becoming increasingly red-faced, I realise I’d bumped into him on one of my many visits to the Venue when I was a student at the University of Kent. As I rack my brain for any embarrassing memories, he gives me a knowing smile. “Canterbury’s a small place and we see many of the same faces,” Oli adds.

Over the three hours, it has been relatively uneventful.

Aside from the odd occasion when someone was refused entry into the bars, the revellers have been well-behaved. This seems to reflect the fact Canterbury has once again been awarded a Purple Flag - given to towns and cities which offer varied and safe night-time entertainment.

But as we walk along Guildhall Street, Oli, Pete and Dan suddenly start to sprint towards the end of the queue for the Cuban. As they round the corner, a stocky man with blond hair punches someone in the line. The victim’s head cracks against the pavement and his attacker starts to run away. As the man lies unconscious in the High Street, his shrieking friends try to pull his body into the recovery position.

As I jog after Oli and Dan, I see they have apprehended the attacker, who’s clearly drunk and yelling, “Get off me! Get off me!” In between expletive-laden shouts, he slams his own head against a glass shop front. Minutes later, police arrive to arrest him. At the same time, several clubbers are evicted from the Cuban for being too drunk and a woman is pulled away from the queue by two doormen .

“Our immediate reaction was to make sure he didn’t hurt anyone else,” Oli says afterwards. “When I saw the guy hit the floor, I knew it was bad; you could see he was knocked out. Thankfully, he was OK and is pressing charges.

“It came straight out the blue. The job can often go from being quite calm to chaos.”

Following this explosion of activity, the High Street continues to hum with drunken revellers, and the redolence of cigarettes and alcohol remains.

But, as I leave the three and head for bed, I’ve seen enough to know those looking to enjoy a festive - and trouble-free - night out in the city are in much safer hands with experienced doormen like these on the streets.