M A S T E R
BREWER AUTUMN 2008
Introducing our new ale
One of the
family www.shepherdneame.co.uk
Welcome
Record Interim sales resultsbut increased costs The company has proved resilient in the face of the UK’s economic downturn and increased costs. Highlights include: • Turnover up 1.7% to £101.7m • Excellent performance from Asahi Super Dry –
volumes up 11.2% • Voted The Publican Regional Brewer of the Year • Strong performance from London pubs, with
While there is no denying these are tough times, there is much to celebrate in this issue of Master Brewer. The brewery has received another accolade for its responsible business practices; winning the Corporate Social Responsibility category of the Kent Business Awards. This is in addition to our Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, National Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and The Publican Regional Brewer of the Year. Such success is testament to our focus on the environment, commitment to energy efficiency and the vital role our pubs play in their communities. Underlining our modern operations with traditional values continues to prove fruitful. You will also read in this issue how our pubs remain at the heart of the communities they serve because they provide vital resources; everything from meals-on-wheels, to a meeting venue for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Further exciting news is the launch of our new cask ale for the on-trade – Canterbury Jack. A refreshingly, zesty ale with wide appeal, it has proved extremely popular in taste trials and at its launch at the Great British Beer Festival. I urge you all to try a pint for yourselves! We are delighted with two considerable acquisitions. The George Hotel, Cranbrook, is a classic inn which boasts an excellent reputation and a rich heritage. The Westminster Arms, on Storey's Gate, counts royals and archbishops among its patrons. This issue would not be complete without honouring one of the brewing industry’s most illustrious figures, Shepherd Neame’s production and distribution director Ian Dixon, who retires after more than 40 years in the industry. We thank and congratulate him on his vast contribution to Shepherd Neame and British brewing and give him our best wishes for his retirement. We also welcome Ian’s replacement, Tom Falcon, who joins us from logistics giant Maersk Company Ltd, part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, where he was the director of strategy and process excellence. He also held senior positions in asset management and procurement and was responsible for a portfolio of transport and distribution companies.
Jonathan Neame Chief Executive Shepherd Neame
annual like-for-like sales up 5.1% Although turnover has increased by 1.7% to £101.7m, margins have been squeezed by significant increases in costs, such as malt, glass, utilities and food. Raw material cost per unit has increased by 45% since 2005/6 and further substantial rises are expected into 2009. As a consequence, operating profit margin before exceptional items has fallen from 13.8% to 12.3%. Chairman Miles Templeman said: “This has been a very challenging year for our industry. There has been a sharp downturn in economic activity and consumer confidence in the UK. Our performance has nonetheless been resilient and compares well against a record result in 2007.” Despite the challenging conditions, Shepherd Neame achieved a satisfactory result from its pub estate. London pubs remained very strong with like-for-like growth of 5.1%, food sales grew by 4.3% and accommodation sales in the managed estate grew by 4.8%. The company’s ale portfolio has proved very resilient to the difficult market conditions. The newlyexpanded take home team grew revenue by 14.6% and bottled Spitfire sales grew by 15.7%. Asahi Super Dry has had an outstanding year with volume growth of 11.2%. Export has also performed extremely well with revenue up 26.2%. Meanwhile national on-sales grew revenues by 12.1%. Chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “We remain optimistic about long term prospects. We continue to invest in the business to ensure that we have the right pubs, the right brand portfolio, the right people skills and production and supply chain capability to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. The long term success of Shepherd Neame has been the breadth and balance of the verticallyintegrated business model. This gives us the strength to be flexible and adaptable in the rapidly changing market.”
Reducing environmental impact
Shepherd Neame has won the Corporate Social Responsibility category of the Kent Business Awards 2008. Chief executive Jonathan Neame is pictured receiving the award from Mike Collins of category sponsor Royal Bank of Scotland. The award recognises the business that has shown the greatest commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and has had the most
positive involvement in its local community during the past year. The brewery was praised for demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the environment with initiatives such as replacing existing HGVs with new fuel-efficient drays which operate well below the emissions limits set in Greater London. Shepherd Neame was also the first company in the UK to install PDX technology which has led to a 50% increase in energy efficiency in the brewhouse.
Community achievements have included a commitment to local sourcing, promoting responsible drinking and fund-raising events in addition to more than £500,000 worth of sports sponsorship each year. Jonathan Neame said: “It is an honour to be recognised by the Kent Business Awards for our CSR practices. Shepherd Neame takes its responsibility to the people of Kent and the environment very seriously. Sustainable business practices allow us to plan for long term growth and development.”
Brewery hosts unique Tercentenarians’ meeting The brewery was the venue for the Tercentenarians’ annual meeting, a unique gathering of the handful of British companies more than 300 years old.
L-R: Jonathan Neame, Lucie Neame, Antoine and Jana Khayat from Fortnum & Mason, Robert Neame CBE and Yvonne Neame
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Representatives of renowned names including Fortnum & Mason, hatters James Lock and Co, of St James’s, and the Fleet Street bank Hoare & Co enjoyed a brewery tour, a tutored tasting and lunch at the visitor centre. Two Kent companies are represented in the Tercentenarians, Shepherd Neame and master builders R. Durtnell & Sons, of Rectory Lane, Brasted. Britain’s most exclusive business club was founded in 1970 by Geoffrey Durtnell and Richard Early of bedding firm Early’s of Witney. Membership is only open to those businesses that have been trading continuously for more than 300 years.
Shepherd Neame has launched a new cask ale aimed at ale-lovers across the UK. Master Brewer has been behind the scenes to find out about the birth of a beer.
THE
Canterbury Jack was unveiled at CAMRA’S Great British Beer Festival in August offering ale drinkers something new from Britain’s oldest brewer. A 3.5% abv cask beer with a refreshing, zesty flavour, Canterbury Jack is hand-crafted using the same high-quality locally-sourced barley, hops and water as all Shepherd Neame beers. Canterbury Jack is brewed with pale and crystal malts. In addition to Shepherd Neame’s prized East Kent Golding hops, locally-grown Cascade hops are also added to the copper. The latter is a popular American variety, rarely grown in the UK. Canterbury Jack boasts an eyecatching, embossed pump clip, with large, red lettering, and, like its sister ale Spitfire, has its own distinctive brand of humorous advertising.
‘‘ HOP
This pale, zesty beer tantalises the nostrils with the aroma of grapefruit before full-bodied, malty, citrus notes delight the palate, leading to a crisp, refreshing, gentle bitter finish.
’’
A range of Canterbury Jack advertisements show vintage pub scenes mixed with “rap” characters talking in modern street slang, and the slogan “The Hip Hop”. A selection of humorous postcards has been designed in the same vein. Shepherd Neame’s marketing and sales director, Graeme Craig, said: “We are very excited about Canterbury Jack and were proud to launch it at the Great British Beer Festival in front of the country’s most discerning audience. We hope its modern, refreshing flavour will appeal to established ale drinkers as well as people discovering ale for the first time.” Canterbury Jack is available on draught in Shepherd Neame pubs and selected pubs and bars nationwide. A bottled version for the off-trade is planned for next year.
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The
perfect
launch pad
The Great British Beer Festival, run by the Campaign for Real Ale, provided the perfect showcase for Canterbury Jack, with 60,000 ale-lovers from across the country flocking to Earls Court. Shepherd Neame sponsored the glassware for the event, and hosted one of the brewery bars, as well as having a seating area, allowing the sales team to entertain more show visitors, industry colleagues and customers from both the on and off trades. Great British Beer Festival visitors get the first taste
Special Canterbury Jack umbrellas made sure the Shepherd Neame bar could be seen from a distance in the packed auditorium and show-goers supped from 49,000 branded Canterbury Jack glasses – including pints, halves and thirds. Brand manager Charlie Holland, who organised the brewery’s presence at the show, said afterwards: “Our bar did well over both the trade and public days. I believe we sold around 3,500 pints of Canterbury Jack alone and our bar staff received great feedback from visitors, with Canterbury Jack receiving lots of positive comments.”
Birth of a
brand
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A light and refreshing, citrusy ale, it’s a far cry from the heavily hopped malty bitterness of, say, Bishops Finger. But it is definitely one of the family; a true Kentish ale. The trial beer went through months of research and tasting sessions across the UK, and was sampled by a broad range of consumers.
The early tasting results were encouraging: 50% said they liked Canterbury Jack best in a blind tasting against a range of popular nationally-available cask ales. The next step was to send sample firkins to a mix of outlets where the beer was trialled “in disguise” to a range of consumers and, once again, the response was extremely positive. With recipe and flavour in place, it was time to bring in RPM3, the advertising agency behind the hugely successful Spitfire advertisements, to create a “personality” for the new beer and to position it in the marketplace. They came up with the humorous idea of juxtaposing Shepherd Neame’s heritage and tradition with modern hip hop language and the tag line “The Hip Hop” to exemplify the traditional ale’s modern image. There was also a conscious decision to make the logo and pump clip distinctively different from Shepherd Neame’s other brands, in terms of shape, typeface and colours. The cheeky advertisements feature in a campaign in the major trade and consumer publications and the image of the brand is also supported by stylish umbrellas and polo shirts.
ROBO
Crafted in the UK and Japan, the mechanical wonder weighs in at one tonne, and took eight engineers 200 man hours to build.
It took six months to perfect Mr Asahi’s pouring skills ahead of its appearance at Selfridges, before embarking on a nationwide tour, visiting Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Leeds. Mr Asahi is controlled by a computer which regulates compressed air through valves and pistons to provide the animatronics required to pour the perfect pint. The robot also takes beer bottles off a conveyor belt, pops the caps off, then spins them around on a lazy susan. For the final flourish of authenticity, there’s also a bit of chat. “Hello everybody,” he asks. “It’s delightful to be here. Would you like an Asahi beer?”
Asahi brand manager Christian Hamilton said: ““The reaction of the public and press to the robot has been nothing less than astounding. Mr Asahi has appeared on international TV and in the press and has become one of the most Googled gadgets on the internet. “The sampling tour has been a great success, with more and more people experiencing the great taste of Asahi Super Dry. The tour has taken in bars and supermarkets in the UK’s top cities.”
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Mr Asahi, the world's first robotic barman, made his debut at Selfridges in London, attracting huge international interest. Mr Asahi served journalists and shoppers with Asahi Super Dry, brewed on licence by Shepherd Neame at Faversham for the Japanese brewers.
HOP
Pack full of
Eastern promise The exotic beers of the Far East come together in The Asian Collection, a unique fusion of three premium lagers now available nationwide.
The collection has been launched in specially-designed end-of-aisle boxes in 330 Asda supermarkets across the country, with the emphasis on how the beers make the perfect accompaniment to pan-Asian food. Supermarket customers are offered the chance to buy the Asian Collection together with Asian food for a set price.
The Asian Collection retails at £5.99 and includes six 330ml bottles, two Asahi Super Dry, two Sun Lik Beer and two Kingfisher. Following the success of the Olympics, there is huge interest in all things oriental and pan-Asian bars and restaurants are some of the coolest places across the UK to try Chinese, Japanese and Indian food with the beers of the region. Now the adventure can continue at home, says Sun Lik brand manager Olly Scott. He said: “We are very excited about teaming up these three strong Asian brands, which are packaged together in an Indiana Jones-style treasure box with bottle shots laid over a map showing an aeroplane’s route across India, China and Japan.”
Swedes celebrate
50th birthday of
Bishops Finger Sweden is one of the major export markets for Bishops Finger and Shepherd Neame has been celebrating its anniversary with a series of events on both sides of the North Sea.
Swedish chefs visit the Shepherd Neame Brewery (left to right): Sandra Ekvall, Johannes Branndstrom, Marcus Thoren, Anders Rydgren and Peter Sundberg
A party of bar owners and chefs from Sweden were guests of export manager Nick Harding at this year’s hop festival. The day before the festival, the chefs prepared a classic Swedish meal for trade customers and other guests at the brewery which was matched with a range of Shepherd Neame ales and lagers, introduced by brewer David Holmes. The party visited Parsonage Farm, where farmer Tony Redsell demonstrated the cutting and preparation of hops, before visiting The Anchor for a traditional beer and oyster lunch and an evening out in Canterbury. After the hop festival, President Robert Neame and his wife Yvonne travelled to Stockholm, where they entertained 100 customers with a beer and food matching event at the British Embassy, showing how
The ambassador’s reception (left to right): Daniel Gyhlenius, senior brand manager of Bibendum AB; Elizabeth Engelsen Ellqvist, marketing manager of Bibendum AB; Robert Neame, president of Shepherd Neame; and Krister Ahnström, sales manager of Bibendum AB
Shepherd Neame beers can be enjoyed with traditional Swedish fare. In the evening, the ambassador hosted a dinner to celebrate 50 years of Bishops Finger.
Rural pubs provide
vital services
More Shepherd Neame pubs are stepping in to provide rural communities with vital services such as “meals-onwheels”, post office services and even advice.
Eve Lester delivers a welcome meal to Helen Austen
Gayna Barry, licensee of the Flying Horse in Smarden, Kent, prepares up to 16 hot, two-course meals for elderly and infirm villagers on weekdays for a cost of just £3.50 a head.
Kent
The pub meals are part of Smarden’s Good Neighbour Scheme, in which food is prepared in the school kitchen during term-time and provided by the pub during the holidays. Gayna, who cooks all the food at the pub, said: “People can choose between two main courses, such as a roast or liver and bacon and have a pudding or fruit for dessert. We don’t make any money out of it – it’s for the good of the community. The meals use local produce and can be chosen in advance from a weekly menu. “Smarden is a lovely place to live,” said Gayna. “We try to support village life with charity nights, by employing local people and by sourcing the ingredients of our pub food as locally as possible.” The Walnut Tree at Aldington, Kent, is providing a venue for staff from Ashford CAB to provide impartial help and advice to villagers on a drop-in basis, part of a pilot scheme to take Citizen’s Advice Bureaux out into the community.
Charity Walk
Licensees Gerard and Gayna Barry prepare a firm favourite
Licensee Karen Barrett explained: “Some villagers find it difficult to get into Ashford so the CAB approached us about becoming a venue where people could have a one-to-one chat about their problems and queries. “The surgery runs from 12.30 to 1.30pm every other Wednesday and we have found them a quiet corner of the restaurant where they will not be disturbed. Other venues include church halls but I believe we are the only pub to be a venue.”
Around 3,200 keen walkers took part in this year’s Kent Charity Walk, organised by Shepherd Neame and the Kent Messenger Group, bringing the total amount of money raised for Kent hospices since the event’s inception to £805,000.
Walk marshals from the Royal Engineers receive a cheque for Help for Heroes from Shepherd Neame
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This year’s walk set off from Charing Racecourse and covered an 11-mile circular route through scenic woods and parkland and along part of the ancient Pilgrims Way. This was an increase on the 10-mile distance of previous years as an eleventh hospice, at Bromley, has been added to the list of those receiving a share of the money raised. Key to the walk’s success are the volunteer marshals from the Royal Engineers who help guide the thousands of walkers around the route. This year Shepherd Neame was also able to present the Help for Heroes charity with a £1,000 donation towards the redevelopment of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre – Headley Court.
By George,
I think we’ve got it! The latest high quality hotel to be acquired by Shepherd Neame has a long and illustrious history. Set in the heart of the Weald of Kent in one of Cranbrook’s most historic buildings, The George Hotel has earned a reputation for being one of Kent’s foremost boutique hotels. The hotel has 12 bedrooms blending period and contemporary features, including eight period rooms in the older part of the building and four contemporary rooms housed in the newer part of the hotel. The hotel’s brasserie holds an AA rosette and is listed in both The Good Food Guide 2008 and Alistair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay: Pubs and Inns of England and Wales. All dishes are freshly cooked to order using only the finest ingredients and produce mainly sourced from the Kent and Sussex countryside and coast. The George’s suppliers include Park Farm in Hawkhurst, Kent, the Weald Smokery in Flimwell, East Sussex, Lynton Seafoods in Maidstone, Kent, and the Gourmet Game Co in Rye, East Sussex.
Acq The George was established as a major watering hole when Cranbrook was the capital of the Weald of Kent’s broadcloth industry as early as 1300. It has a royal pedigree too: Queen Elizabeth I visited the inn in 1573, when she was presented with a silver gilt cup, engraved with a lion supporting the queen’s arms. The George is ideal to use as a base to visit a number of tourist attractions such as Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Royal Tunbridge Wells and the historic Cinque ports of Tenterden and Rye. The new manager of the George is Debbie Campbell, who was born in Tunbridge Wells and lived in Sissinghurst for many years before pursuing a career in hotel management. The former tax specialist ran hotels in Dartmoor and Wales before returning to her roots this summer. “This is a stunning hotel and we have a great team working hard to create a unique experience for everyone who comes here,” said Debbie.
Politicians meet pop stars at
The Westminster Arms Not many pubs can say they have played host to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof and Prince Edward but then the Westminster Arms in Whitehall, Shepherd Neame’s latest acquisition, is no ordinary watering hole. This bustling bar and restaurant close to the House of Commons manages to keep a very diverse clientele happy and even has a division bell so that MPs and political journalists can scamper back to the House in time for votes.
“People from all over the spectrum have been customers for a long time,” says manager Gerry Dolan, who runs the Westminster Arms with his wife Marie. “We get a lot of famous faces in here but we treat all our customers the same and pride ourselves on serving quickly because that’s what most of them are looking for.” In keeping with its historic setting close to Downing St, Horse Guards Parade and St James’s Park, the pub serves a traditional menu of steak and kidney pudding, cottage pie and fish and chips alongside a few more modern favourites. The Westminster Arms serves a wide range of cask ales and house wines including, of course, Bishops Finger. “We’ll be offering Desmond Tutu a glass of that when he next comes in,” says Gerry.
uisitions White Hart plays active role
in community
The brewery has acquired the White Hart, Claygate, a delightfully traditional pub.
folk night, with singing, poetry and storytelling. Sarah said: “The White Hart has an atmosphere where people feel part of the family and are at ease whether they stay at the bar and chat or enjoy a quiet drink in the corner.” Property and tenanted trade director George Barnes said: “We are delighted to have acquired the White Hart and we look forward to the pub playing an active role in the local community.”
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Surrounded by orchards and fields, the White Hart is an established meeting place within the heart of the Kent countryside known for its real ale. The Victorian inn has earned a reputation for good food and hosting special events. The pub has a large garden with seating and children’s play equipment,
a restaurant with 68 covers and two separate bars. Its interior is traditional with exposed ceiling beams and other period features. New licensees Carl and Sarah Thompson (pictured) are going to continue the pub’s theatre nights, at which customers can take in a play and enjoy a two-course meal. The restaurant’s updated menu will offer a selection of wholesome meals prepared from fresh top-quality local produce. The pub will also host a regular
Mayoral thumbs-up for Bishops Finger The Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Carolyn Parry, pulled the first pint at the Bishops Finger, Canterbury, when it re-opened following a £105,000 refurbishment.
New zest for Oranges The Oranges’ new licensees, Julia Butler and partner Ashlee Love (right), have reinvigorated the Ashford pub with an extensive refurbishment and a fresh new menu. Julia is drawing on her experience in the pub industry to develop The Oranges’ potential as a great destination for lunchtime and evening meals; her most recent position was as manager at The Albion, Faversham. Ashlee is reprising his role as head chef and has already created an original menu for the pub. The brewery helped out by paying £16,000 for the exterior of the building to be redecorated.
Yew Tree has new look and new menu L-R: Sean McCord (manager), the Mayor of Canterbury Councillor Carolyn Parry, David Denne from the Canterbury Pilgrims Hospice and Jonathan Neame
The bar area has been improved and redecorated, with new furniture and a mirrored bar, as well as historic photographs and memorabilia contributing to the traditional character of the city centre pub and its cosy interior. The pub’s sport offering has also been upgraded with new televisions throughout including a large screen which covers the rear wall of the pub. New outdoor furniture has been added to the large beer garden including a giant umbrella; ensuring the pub is ready for all weathers.
The brewery has completed a £60,000 refurbishment at the Yew Tree, Sandling, near Maidstone. The refurbishment involved a complete redecoration with new wooden wall panelling, kitchen, toilets and soft furnishings.
New tenant Mathew Bryant has transformed the pub’s menu by offering fresh, wholesome dishes using ingredients from local suppliers. He said: “I want to maintain this pub’s strong sense of community and help out local charities such as Tyland Barn.”
Lamb reopens with fresh new look The Lamb, in Farnham, Surrey, has reopened following a £52,000 refurbishment by the brewery. Jonathan Neame officially reopened the pub in August and presented a charity cheque for £200 to Melanie Hill of Chase Hospice Care for Children. Tom Bobbins, 78, a former RAF pilot who has been a regular in the pub for many years, pulled the first pint. The Lamb, in Abbey Street, now has a fresh new look, with slate and hardwood flooring, new furniture, blinds, better lighting and refurbished toilets. The pub also held a music evening for Chase Hospice Care for Children recently, raising another £600 for the charity. Live music is a big attraction at the pub, which hosts musicians from as far as Florida and Boston, playing a range of genres, including rock, blues and ska.
Crowning glory There’s one consolation of a wet summer – it’s good for the garden – and the winners of this year’s Pub Garden Awards have made the best of their outdoor space despite the weather, each winning £250 worth of gardening vouchers. The winner of this year’s large garden award is the King Henry VIII, next to Hever Castle.
Licensee Tracey Begent (right) arrived at the pub 15 months ago and has already turned the garden into a destination in its own right. The garden features a pagoda covered in blooms and the patio is a riot of colour from the hanging baskets and borders that surround the seating. There is also a lawn with 10 tables, providing an area to sit and admire the floral displays and wall-mounted fountains. One of the castle’s ponds backs onto the pub garden, providing an interesting focal point full of moorhens and ducks.
Tracey said: “When we first arrived, the garden was in a bit of a state but I could see that there was a lot of potential. I sat down with a professional to plan how I would like the garden to look, the colours and features. The smell on a hot day when the aroma of the flowers drifts through the pub is gorgeous and the garden gets really busy. I just love walking out onto the patio and seeing all the vivid colours of the flowers.”
Hidden treasure The small garden and hanging baskets award has been won by The Smugglers Inn, Herne. Licensees Jacqueline and Colin Sutton (left) were commended for their extensive flower border as well as a flower box that runs the length of one of the garden walls. The pub hosts regular bat and trap matches so the garden is dominated by an exceptional lawn with the appropriate chalk markings.
on guide ti a d o m m o c c a New
Pubs set the standard for good food Shepherd Neame has seven of its pubs featured in The Good Food Guide 2009 published by the consumer association Which?. The Guide features 26 places to dine across Kent and more than one in four of these are Shepherd Neame pubs. Of the 26 entries, there are 10 dining pubs and Shepherd Neame clearly dominates this category owning 70% of the listed pubs. The Shepherd Neame pubs that have reappeared in the guide are: The Sportsman, Seasalter; The Railway; Faversham; The Granville, Canterbury; The Dove, Dargate, and the Fitzwalter Arms, Goodnestone. These have been joined by two new entrants for Shepherd Neame: the Three Mariners, Oare, and the Carpenters, Eastling. Now in its 57th year The Good Food Guide is recognised as Britain’s leading restaurant review. All the inspections carried out by the guide are anonymous, all meals are paid for and the publication receives no sponsorship or advertising, ensuring truly independent reviews.
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The brewery’s latest accommodation guide has been launched with a special offer on pre-Christmas breaks: from 1 December to 18 December, Shepherd Neame’s accommodation houses will be offering two nights for the price of one, subject to availability. New in this year’s guide is the recently-acquired George Hotel, Cranbrook (see feature on page 12). Dating back to the 14th century and visited by Queen Elizabeth I in 1573, this ancient inn in the Weald of Kent retains a wealth of period features. The George has been transformed into a boutique hotel and brasserie with 12 individually designed rooms offering a blend of contemporary and period style. For more information on the special offers available all year round and to obtain a free accommodation guide, telephone Louise Hopkins at Shepherd Neame on 01795 542173 or visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk.
Colin tends the garden for a couple of hours daily, watering and weeding the hanging baskets. He developed his green fingers upon first moving to the pub and set about landscaping the entire garden. It is reinvigorated each year with new flowers and home-made hanging baskets. He says: “I enjoy working on the garden and our regulars love sitting out there. It has really come into its own since the smoking ban with some customers discovering it for the first time. The bat and trap team says it is the best pitch they play on.”
Pub News Crash course in fund-raising for ‘Penelope Pitstop’ Licensee Karen Barrett of the Walnut Tree, Aldington – aka Penelope Pitstop – is pictured taking a tumble during a day of bank holiday fun in which intrepid soap box racers risked life and limb plunging down Forge Hill, Aldington, to raise money for charity. “Although all the soap boxes were checked before we were allowed to race, my steering broke and I rolled my cart twice,” said Karen. The Aldington Soap Box Race was the centrepiece of the family day which raised £10,000, shared between Pilgrims Hospices and Aldington Village Hall. Karen takes a tumble, but it’s all in a good cause
Brands in BBI awards Several brands brewed at Faversham by Shepherd Neame won awards in the British Bottlers’ Institute Competition for Ales, Lagers and Ciders 2008. Master Brew achieved a diploma, while 1698 and Kingfisher won silver medals in their respective categories. Early Bird and Whitstable Bay won silver in the packaging section of the awards.
food and drink award final
The George & Dragon in The Street, Ightham, won regional honours in a competition run by a major local newspaper group. The 16th century pub, run by Mark and Fiona Harris, was chosen as Best Bistro and Best Gastro Pub in the Archant London Food and Drink Awards 2008 by readers of the Gravesend Reporter. Tenants Mark and Fiona, accompanied by their chef Lee Pell, attended an awards ceremony in September at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Portman Square, London, hosted by renowned chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. The George & Dragon, Ightham, was named Wine Pub of the Year, in the 2008 Shepherd Neame Pub Awards.
Pub drinks award success On-trade market research company ontrack has crowned Shepherd Neame the ‘Best Pub Drinks Retailer’ following its annual research project across the pub industry.
ontrack surveyed more than 5,000 pub customers and 400 employees in the UK. Shepherd Neame was recognised for the quality of its drinks service, glass cleanliness, drink temperatures, and sufficient ice and lemon, where appropriate. The quality of drink service rated as the most important aspect of a visit to the pub according to the survey.
Shepherd Neame business district manager Greg Wallis collects the ‘Best Pub Drinks Retailer Award’ from ontrack’s Katie Littler
Oldest barman serves Shepherd Neame Mr Christou has worked there since the tender age of 80 having found retirement too dull and can still be found behind the bar on a number of weekday afternoons. Shepherd Neame free trade account manager Carl Flaxman was in attendance to present Mr Christou with an engraved pewter ale stoup as thanks for his exceptional dedication.
Right: (l-r) Shepherd Neame’s Carl Flaxman presents Chris with his birthday presents, alongside Charlton Athletic’s Steve Sutherland
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The oldest barman in Britain has been pulling pints of Shepherd Neame ale for the last 20 years. Joakim “Chris” Christou celebrated his 100th birthday recently at the Westwood Masonic Centre, Welling, a Shepherd Neame free trade account.
Production and distribution director Ian Dixon (above) retired at the end of July after more than 40 years in the industry. Directors and staff paid tribute to his tireless work in the industry with a party in the visitor centre and a specially-brewed beer, Ian’s Absquatulating Ale. The bottles featured a caricature of Ian dressed as a cowboy and bearing the legend “With his work done, the lone figure on his trusty steed, Mercedes, rode off into the sunset” in honour of his idol, John Wayne. Ian joined Shepherd Neame in 1991 as production and distribution director.
In his early career, he gained practical training and experience at Brewing Research International and John Smith’s Brewery, Tadcaster. Later he was appointed group production director of Courage Breweries, where he was responsible for part of the design and development of the Berkshire Brewery, then the largest in the UK. During his tenure at the Faversham brewery, Shepherd Neame made significant strides in cutting water and power use, achieving a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, a National Business Award for CSR and two Kent Business Awards, this year for CSR and previously for Kent Environment Business of the Year. Ian oversaw the development of the Shepherd Neame Distribution Centre, which has improved efficiency and taken hundreds of lorry movements off the medieval streets of Faversham, and the creation of the brewery’s visitor centre. All the while, Ian was charged with meeting the challenge of modernising Shepherd Neame’s brewing operation without sacrificing its tradition or compromising its values.
Shepherd Neame has put aside an acre of land on its farm near Faversham to house part of the National Hop Collection, a pioneering project supported by Ian, hop researcher Peter Darby and renowned grower Tony Redsell to protect Britain’s historic hop varieties. Ian and his team of brewers have enjoyed repeated success at the European Beer Star Awards, the World Beer Awards and two consecutive Daily Telegraph/Sainsbury’s Taste of Britain Awards for distinctive beers such as Spitfire, Bishops Finger, Whitstable Bay and 1698. He also introduced the Shepherd Neame microbrewery. One testament to Ian’s commitment to quality has been the willingness of such respected brands as Asahi and Holsten to trust Shepherd Neame to accurately recreate their beers on licence for the UK market. Nominated by his peers in the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, Ian was presented with the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group’s Brewer of the Year Award by its chairman John Grogan MP, in June, to mark his significant contribution to the industry.
Jonathan Neame thanked Ian for his tremendous contribution to the company and presented him with a farewell gift of a silver hip flask. Senior managers and colleagues joined Ian for a brewer’s lunch in which the courses were matched with beers that Ian had brewed through his career, including Newcastle Brown Ale matched with pease pudding and ham stotties, brought down specially from the North East. Chairman Miles Templeman said: “During his time with the company, Ian has overseen major development and modernisation of the brewery and distribution facilities and supported the growth of our ale and lager brands. We were delighted that he was recently named as the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group Brewer of the Year. We wish him a long and happy retirement.” Ian also enjoyed a retirement dinner at Brewers’ Hall, London, on 24 September, with friends and colleagues from his long career in the industry. Ian won’t be giving up a life in brewing completely – he has already received a number of consultancy offers and is chairman of Brewing Research International. But there will be a lot more time for his family and his other loves – a frog-eyed Sprite, Austin Healey 3000 and an old E-Type Jaguar. Brewery staff toast Ian’s retirement in the visitor centre
Out of Africa Ian has handed over to Tom Falcon as the new production and distribution director. Tom (below) has joined Shepherd Neame from logistics giant Maersk, where he was the director of strategy and process excellence. He also held senior positions in asset management and procurement and was responsible for a portfolio of transport and distribution companies. Prior to joining Maersk, Tom spent seven years working in Africa, predominantly for Transami, East Africa’s major freight forwarding and logistics operator. He then completed an MBA at INSEAD and spent three years with A.T. Kearney management consultants. His career has taken him to, among others, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Denmark, Holland and France.
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Tom, who was born in Canterbury, now lives in Hinxhill with his wife Annabel and their four children. Tom enjoys a number of sports and is a keen musician. Chairman Miles Templeman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Tom to the company. We are confident that his experience, particularly in process excellence and transportation, will be of significant benefit to Shepherd Neame in supporting the growth and development of the business.” Tom said: “I have always been aware of Shepherd Neame’s beers and pubs, having grown up in Kent, and I am thrilled to have joined the company. “The rate of change across business processes, systems and practices is immense. As Shepherd Neame continues to grow and extend its reach, quality, process improvement and efficiency is becoming more important than ever. My role, with my team, is to drive these improvements and add to Shepherd Neame’s tremendous success.”
National Hop
Experts in their field These four beer experts are standing in an unassuming field in Kent that contains a time capsule of brewing heritage. Pictured left to right, Dr Peter Darby, Ian Dixon, beer writer Roger Protz and David Holmes are flanked by a unique piece of living history.
For this acre of land near Faversham, now houses part of the National Hop Collection, protecting and preserving rare strains of hops. Shepherd Neame’s Ian Dixon and David Holmes have collaborated with Dr Peter Darby, the UK’s leading hop researcher, and National Hop Association President Tony Redsell to create the facility – which acts as a back-up for the main body of the collection at China Farm, Harbledown.
The wirework was completed in the spring and a crop, including numerous rare breeds, blossomed with a very high success rate. The collection includes many varieties dating back to the 19th century and it is hoped by next year that enough can be harvested for a small brew. Here Dr Peter Darby and renowned ale author Roger Protz, from The Good Beer Guide, give their expert views on the importance of the collection for the past, present and future of British brewing.
Collection Preserving hops’ heritage Each hop variety provides a unique contribution to the flavour and taste of beer. Much of the heritage of British beer was at the former Wye College hop collection. In 2007, the National Hop Association of England transferred the collection to China Farm, near Canterbury. During 2008, the essential core of this collection, comprising 250 different varieties and breeding lines, was planted at Shepherd Neame’s land at Queen Court Farm, near Faversham.
This facility will be of immense value to the English hop industry. It safeguards the varieties against any losses at the main China Farm site. Queen Court now has 110 named hop varieties, dating back to ‘Old Golding’ from 1790 and ‘Colgate’ from 1805 through to the most recent English hop variety, ‘Sovereign’, released in 2006. While access to the collections at Wye College was restricted, a viewing platform at Queen Court will allow visitors to see many of the varieties long-lost from commercial production as well as all the varieties used by Shepherd Neame in its beers.
The elite breeding lines, now at Queen Court, contain a huge range of traits to allow new varieties to be developed to meet the challenges of hop production in England in the 21st century. In particular, it contains unique dwarf hop lines, and pest and disease resistance. Queen Court not only acts as a genetic bank for these traits but the site will also be used for collecting pollen and making new crosses. This collaborative project between brewer and hop grower will ensure that future English hop varieties will continue to provide the tastes and flavours associated with the English hop varieties of the last two centuries, actively preserving the national hop heritage. Dr Peter Darby
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From the
microbrewery... Shepherd Neame’s brewers, led by brewer Stewart Main, have been brewing small quantities of beer for special events. The microbrewery has hand-crafted a range of different beers including:
Jack in the Green Special
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Event: Flavours of Faversham festival The beer: A 4.1% abv fruit beer fermented with a mixture of cherries from the National Fruit Collection at nearby Brogdale and from the garden of The Anchor pub in Faversham. Stewart’s notes: “Kriek is a traditional Belgian beer fermented with sour cherries. Our version was a deliciously quaffable pale beer infused with cherries.” E
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Shepherd Neame has joined the beer quality monitoring scheme Cask Marque. Cask Marque, which audits both pub cellars and distribution centres to accredit the quality and handling of the beer, now has 31 corporate members, and the brewery will become one of the scheme’s national training venues. Sales and marketing director Graeme Craig said: “The brewery can champion beer quality within our estate with our excellent Master of Beer qualification. However, as our cask ale brands, Spitfire and Bishops Finger, are available nationally it is important that we use Cask Marque as part of our support package to ensure that our beer is always served in the best possible condition.” Graeme said the brewery would also be supporting Cask Marque initiatives such as Cask Ale Week, planned for Easter 2009.
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Original Whitstable Oyster Bay Stout Event: Whitstable Oyster Festival The beer: A 3.7% abv stout made by adding a handful of fresh oysters to the copper during the boil, a practice popular among British brewers just after World War II. Stewart’s notes: “This full bodied traditional stout, brewed with pale, black, brown and crystal malts, gave a rich flavour on the palate. Then the classic bitterness from generous quantities of East Kent Goldings hops took over.”
Kent Show Stopper Event: Kent Show The beer: This 4.1% abv traditional beer featuring pure honey from Kentish apiaries as a key ingredient, was sold exclusively at Shepherd Neame’s real ale bar at the Kent Showground, Detling. Stewart’s notes: “A traditional Kentish pale ale with a delicate flavour complemented with the addition of Kentish honey, sourced from local farms, added directly to the cask.”
Kingfisher and Spitfire
on top of the world Kingfisher and Spitfire have won medals in the Monde World Selection 2008, the premier international food and drink awards. Kingfisher won a Grand Gold Award with Palm Leaves in the category for Pilsen-style beers, following expert scrutiny by industry judges. The Grand Gold Award with Palm Leaves is the highest accolade the judging panel can bestow, and recognises products that win more than 90% of jury points. Spitfire won a Silver Medal in the Pale Ale category. The winning products went on show at an exhibition and gala event in Vienna. Monde Selection is an independent international institute founded in 1961 in Brussels, and is the world’s oldest and most respected organisation in the field of Quality Selections. Each year an average of more than 1,500 products are presented to the institute from more than 70 countries in order to find the world’s best food and drink.
OBITUARY
Rusty Thorneycroft Rusty Thorneycroft, who laid the foundations of the company’s tenanted trade estate department during the 1970s and 80s, has died following a short illness. The former tied trade director, who retired in 1988, died in the spring after suffering a stroke last Christmas. He was 84. Tragically, his wife Fiona, known to many at the brewery, also died soon afterwards, in July.
Born in Surrey, Rusty spent his early career in the Army, rising to the rank of Major in the Buffs. Robert Neame met Rusty while playing cricket and was sufficiently impressed to ask him to join the company in 1966. Rusty started out as free trade representative for West Kent. In 1972, Shepherd Neame acquired 32 pubs from Whitbread, following a ruling by the Monopolies and Merger Commission. Rusty was charged with creating a new department and a new strategy, focusing on the pub side of the business.
Rusty (pictured with his wife Fiona) receives his retirement gifts from tenants liaison committee chairman John Spencer
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Colleague Bryan Mulhern recalled: “Suddenly the tied trade estate had increased by a quarter and it was our job to liaise with all the tenants in this much larger operation. I joined Rusty in a tiny attic office at the top of the brewery and our first handover was at the Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable. “On the way there, I asked him exactly what we were supposed to do at a handover. He admitted that he didn’t have the faintest idea but said ‘If we stand around and look important then we’ll find out as we go along’.” Another important member of the team was Rusty’s dog – a Jack Russell terrier called Macintosh – who accompanied him everywhere. Part of Bryan’s apprenticeship in tied trade management was taking Macintosh for a walk each morning before the business of the day commenced, a role subsequently passed to George Barnes when he joined the brewery in 1978. Rusty loved cricket – he was a member of the MCC – and despite being Surrey-born was a keen Kent supporter, moving to Chestfield, near Whitstable, so he could be within easy reach of the St Lawrence Ground. After retiring, Rusty and Fiona moved to Exmouth, to be nearer their son. Bryan said: “He was well-liked and well-respected by all of the tenants. Rusty was so well regarded by the people he dealt with on a day-to-day basis that more than 250 licensees and trade colleagues attended a surprise retirement party for him.” George Barnes, the current property and tenanted trade director, said: “Rusty set and established high standards. He was instrumental in developing the tenanted trade department and was a wonderful person to work for.”
Brands go head finals days
to head on
The Kent Spitfires, carrying Spitfire logos on their shirts, and the Essex Eagles, also sponsored by Shepherd Neame, met at Lord’s in the final of the Friends Provident Trophy on 16 August.
Credit: Kieran Galvin
Shepherd Neame’s sales team entertained 75 guests from each county at the match which Essex won by five wickets after Kent had set a disappointing total of just 214 in their 50 overs.
Sport Left: Essex toast a well deserved win
Essex chased down the total with an unbeaten 70 from man-ofthe-match Grant Flower. The rivals also met in an exciting Twenty20 finals day at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. Kent won the semi-final by 14 runs before losing out to Middlesex in a thrilling final in which Rob Key’s men fell just three runs short of their opponents’ total of 187, the highestever in a Twenty20 cup final. Kent missed out on the prize of taking part in matches against England and Trinidad and Tobago but have the consolation of being invited into next year’s proposed Champions League.
Drinks Industry take on Old England XI
Spitfire and Asahi sponsor European Open Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale and Asahi Super Dry were two sponsors of the European Open Golf Tournament,
Colin Montgomery tees off at the 12th
held at the prestigious London Golf Club, near Brands Hatch, Kent. A dedicated Spitfire bar decorated with Spitfire’s popular tongue-in-cheek advertisements, served Spitfire on draught throughout the tournament. Asahi and Spitfire banners appeared on tees and both brands were available at refreshment outlets across the course.
Shepherd Neame Twenty20 Club Championship The championship is organised by former Kent and England cricketer Martin McCague. The bulk of the prize money was shared by the finalists but clubs not reaching the finals also won prize money for exceptional performances during the competition.
Sales and marketing director Graeme Craig presents Stanmore with their trophy
The Old England XI, featuring such great names as John Lever, Richard Ellison and Clive Radley, took on a drinks industry XI organised by Shepherd Neame and the Morning Advertiser in a charity cricket match at the Provender Ground near Faversham. With a major contribution of 70 runs from England ladies cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, the industry team won the game after a nail-biting finish, reaching the Old England total with just two balls to spare. Shepherd Neame’s Martin McCague went in at number 11 and he and licensee Chris Annand put on 30 runs in three overs to edge the industry team home. But the real winner was the Licensed Trade Charity which was £6,000 better off after the event thanks to a charity auction.
Published on behalf of Shepherd Neame by Edwards Harvey, The Mill House, Hollingworth Court, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5PP Printed on 80% recycled stock that has been awarded the NAPM and Eugropa recycled certificates
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The final of the Shepherd Neame Twenty20 Club Championship was held at Kent County Cricket Club’s St Lawrence Ground at Canterbury on Sunday 14 September. The four clubs who made it to the finals day were Kent champions Bromley; Essex champions Colchester & East Essex; Surrey champions Ashford and Middlesex champions Stanmore with Stanmore coming out on top. More than 200 cricket clubs from Kent, Essex, Surrey and Middlesex competed in this fast and furious version of the game, competing for a share of £25,000 in prize money.
The industry’s finest line up alongside Old England greats