Master
BREWER
www.shepherdneame.co.uk Autumn 2014
GREAT EXPECTATIONS The label Britain’s oldest brewer carries with it a certain weight. It opens doors and serves as a marque of provenance. We are delighted that the launch of our new history book (see opposite) offers clear evidence that brewing has been continuous on our site since far earlier than previously thought. We are also hugely honoured to have our Royal Warrant extended to cover Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale – another heartening accolade. Giving customers a fantastic experience is a challenge we all relish – whether from behind the bar or back in the brewery. But it’s not enough to simply meet customers’ expectations; we aim to exceed them with pubs and beers of great character and individuality. To this end, we continue to invest in our pubs and hotels, from stunning coastal idylls such as the Botany Bay Hotel to high quality community pubs like the Three Lions, Farncombe. Our latest beers are also making waves, most recently our Oyster Stout (p.10). It is part of the Whitstable Bay Collection, which has opened new doors for the business thanks to its fresh, modern approach. Bringing together the old and new is a skill that requires deft handling, but when you successfully marry excellent products and good service together with character and provenance, we think it makes for a compelling combination.
Jonathan Neame Chief Executive @jbneame
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ROYAL WARRANT FOR SHEPHERD NEAME The brewery has had its Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales extended beyond Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy. It is to be celebrated on bottles of Shepherd Neame’s flagship beer – Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale. Brewing and brands director Graeme Craig said: “We’re over the moon to join an elite group of the UK’s finest food and drink producers able to carry a Royal Warrant. We are delighted that these products will be available at royal functions. Everyone at the brewery deserves to be proud to have their efforts recognised in this way.”
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AND ALL THAT…
A new book finally confirms the oft-debated topic of who is Britain’s oldest brewer. It’s a moniker Shepherd Neame has laid claim to for some time, but evidence unveiled by brewery archivist and historian John Owen has put paid to counter-claims and rivals. The Emergence Of Shepherd Neame From The Earliest Days of Brewing in Faversham, Kent: 1100-1732, contains evidence that brewing has taken place continuously on the current site since 1573 – at least 125 years earlier than previously believed. Records show that in 1573 brewer John Castlocke II was living at 18 Court Street. They also confirm the site has been a brewery ever since, perhaps with origins even earlier from which Shepherd Neame has evolved, with the Shepherd and Neame families joining in the 18th and 19th centuries respectively. Brewery archivist and historian John Owen
To find out the whole story, the book is available in store and online from the Visitor Centre shop. 3
DORKING’S OLDEST PUB ENJOYS NEW LOOK The King’s Arms Dorking has re-opened following the second phase of a major refurbishment. Licensees Gurdeep Manku and Rosie Adams already run another pub nearby, but were keen on restoring this pub to its former glory by working in conjunction with the brewery on the £140,000 refurbishment. Improvements at the pub, which dates back to 1405, include new flagstone and timber flooring, and the addition of an outdoor TV. On the new look, Gurdeep said: “We are really pleased with the pub’s new look, and have received lots of compliments from locals. Looking after two pubs is a lot of work, but we enjoy the challenge and have some great staff to help us.”
REFURBISH
Licensees Gurdeep Manku and Rosie Adams
STEAMING AHEAD AT THE RAILWAY TELEGRAPH A £250,000 makeover has been completed at historic pub The Railway Telegraph in Lewisham. The Shepherd Neame pub in Stanstead Road, Forest Hill, first opened in 1853, and care has been taken to preserve its Victorian features during the revamp. Improvements include introducing a disabled toilet and disabled access, redesigning the bar, and repainting the entire building, inside and out. Following a refurbishment of the kitchen, the pub has also introduced a new menu of traditional English classics, inspired by famous Victorian cookery writer Mrs Beeton. Regulars enjoy the new surroundings
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Our pubs provide employment for approximately 4,500 people across London and the South East.
MUSIC PUB RISES FROM THE ASHES A Farncombe pub gutted by fire earlier this year has been officially re-opened following a major reconstruction project. The Three Lions was refurbished in January, with new licensee Sarah Firth and husband Graham moving in shortly afterwards. The following month a fire gutted the upstairs of the building, leaving them homeless.
First time tenants Sarah and Graham Firth
HMENTS
The company quickly refurbished the building again and local firefighters were the guests of honour at a re-opening for loyal customers who supported the pub throughout the year. Thankfully, the pub is rapidly becoming renowned for its fantastic live music, rather than the blaze.
STYLISH REVAMP FOR CITY CENTRE BAR A £120,000 refurbishment has transformed a popular bar in Canterbury, allowing customers to enjoy its garden to the full. Licensee Charles Smythe undertook the major revamp of the city centre pub with support from brewery Shepherd Neame. Improvements include a new rear extension to replace a conservatory, and the addition of a ping pong table, Giant Jenga and Connect Four in the garden. Charles said: “We have received some great feedback about the makeover from our customers, and have already seen a surge in sales since the revamp.”
Licensee Tony Dodd with his partner Christina Lee
MARGATE PUB RE-OPENS AFTER MAJOR MAKEOVER The Orb in the popular seaside town of Margate has re-opened after a £40,000 transformation. It was jointly funded by Shepherd Neame and licensee Tony Dodd, and work included refurbishing the bar and repainting throughout. New carpets, lighting and furniture have been introduced, and the garden has benefited from new decking and plants.
Licensee Charles Smythe pours a pint on the opening night
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COASTAL HOTEL RE-OPENS AFTER ÂŁ1.4 MILLION INVESTMENT The Botany Bay Hotel at Kingsgate near Broadstairs has re-opened following a ÂŁ1.4 million refurbishment. Formerly known as the Fayreness Hotel, it is situated in one of the most picturesque spots on the Kentish coast, overlooking the spectacular Botany Bay. The building has been remodelled to make the most of its breathtaking sea views, including the installation of two elegant conservatories at the front, and the addition of a wrap-around deck to allow guests to sit outside. 6
Its brick exterior has been clad in traditional Kentish weatherboarding, and new facilities for dog walkers have been added, along with a bicycle area. All 30 en-suite bedrooms, many offering sea views of the eponymous bay, have been refurbished, using natural sand and blue-green colours, artefacts and artwork of local scenes to reflect the coastal setting. The main bar area also boasts a fresh new look, and has been divided into comfortable seating areas, including the introduction of a coffee lounge and cosy fireplace.
Visitors can choose from a selection of tasty snacks and traditional pub meals in the bar, or enjoy á la carte dining in the panoramic-view restaurant. It offers classic British cuisine with a contemporary twist, and as one might expect from the hotel’s unique coastal location, seafood is a speciality.
Visitors to the hotel won’t want to miss the opportunity to explore Botany Bay, just a minute’s stroll from its entrance. The Blue Flag quality beach, offering more than 200 metres of golden sands, stunning White Cliffs and rock pools, has been made famous by a whole host of TV and film productions.
The chefs use only the finest locally sourced, seasonal produce, from Romney Marsh lamb to Whitstable oysters and Dover sole, along with the fresh produce for which the Garden of England is renowned.
The hotel is also ideal for a golfing break in Kent as it sits next to the famous North Foreland Golf Club, and is within a few miles of the Open Championship links courses of Prince’s Golf Club and Royal St. George’s in Sandwich.
And the contemporary coastal hotel is the perfect choice for any type of function, from conferences and professional meetings to group get-togethers and parties. It has two stylish function rooms available; the intimate Club Room, which can accommodate up to 40 guests, or the Kingsgate Suite, which can cater for up to 100. The ground floor Kingsgate Suite, which boasts panoramic sea views, has a private bar and dance floor and is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.
Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “This significant refurbishment is not just about investing in the hotel, but the coastal area of East Kent. Not only have we have created a significant number of new hospitality and catering roles, but the presence of a stylish destination hotel will provide a boost for the local tourism market.”
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FLYING HIGH WITH SPITFIRE
Janet Street-Porter and Brian Turner at the pub
Licensees Adrian and Kay Eden of The Cricketers Arms in Chelmsford (pictured) were among the winners of this year’s Operation Landlord competition.
PUB HOSTS CELEBRITY BAT AND TRAP MATCH
The promotion, organised with Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale, saw five lucky landlords win £1,000 of holiday vouchers.
TV stars Janet Street-Porter and chef Brian Turner delighted regulars at Faversham’s Market Inn when they dropped in for a game of bat and trap.
Customers simply had to order a cask of Spitfire Ale to enter, and five winners were drawn at random.
The pair were being filmed for their new daytime BBC1 series Taste of Britain, due to be screened this autumn.
TASTY HONOUR FOR SHEPHERD NEAME CHEF
Carol Haime, centre, with the other British Barbecue Battle finalists
Shepherd Neame’s tenanted food development chef Carol Haime triumphed at this year’s British Barbecue Battle. Carol won the Pubs and Bars category in the competition, held at Blenheim Palace near Oxford. 8
Her three course menu, cooked entirely on the barbecue, comprised hot smoked salmon; a roast beef sharing joint; and bread and butter pudding skewers - each paired with a different Shepherd Neame beer.
FRESH HOPS – SEASONAL AND LOCAL The brewery is once again helping to reaffirm Faversham’s status as Home of the Hop by taking part in the annual Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight. More than 20 Kent breweries are joining in this year’s celebration of the county’s world-renowned crop. Tallyman’s Special (ABV 4.5%) will be brewed with Canterbury Whitebine, a rare variety which is being sourced from the National Hop Collection at the brewery’s Queen Court Farm. Shepherd Neame head brewer, Richard Frost, said: “Brewers usually brew with dried hops, which are designed to keep for a whole year, but once a year we get this unique opportunity to use fresh hops and retain the natural aromas that are sometimes lost during the drying process.”
NEW LOOK FOR CHRISTMAS ALE The brewery’s popular Christmas Ale has a new look which will bring it into the very successful Classic Collection range of traditional beers. With more than a hint of Dickensian festive cheer, the garland-adorned label brings together the seasonal and the historic. The seasonal ale is brewed using 100% natural ingredients; chalk-filtered mineral water from the artesian well deep below Shepherd Neame’s site, along with the finest pale and crystal malting barley and Target, Challenger and Goldings hops from Kent. Christmas Ale is available on draught (ABV 5.0%) during December and available in 500ml bottles (ABV 7.0%) from all good retailers.
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OYSTER STOUT JOINS WHITSTABLE BAY COLLECTION The latest addition to the Whitstable Bay Collection has been unveiled: Whitstable Bay Black Oyster Stout. The 4.2% ABV keg stout from the Faversham Steam Brewery is brewed using a unique blend of four coloured malts which impart a rich, complex flavour, balanced by the finest Admiral hops, and finished with a smooth, creamy head. This new beer follows the huge success of the Collection comprising Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager and Whitstable Bay Organic Ale - since it was launched in 2013. On the launch, head brewer Richard Frost said: “Adding a stout draws upon the heritage of the town and its famed oysters. When stouts first emerged in the 18th century, oysters were not the delicacy they are today, but a common snack served in pubs, and proved an excellent pairing.�
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FUN IN THE SUN Shepherd Neame’s brands and events team have been busy this summer, attending dozens of fantastic events around the country. Brighton bar manager Francois Monin claimed a Guinness World Record by opening 2,000 bottles of Asahi beer in 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale was the headline sponsor for the two-day air and motoring show
Wings and Wheels at Dunfold Aerodrome in Surrey. A Spitfire Ale-branded bus also proved a popular source of refreshment with cricket fans visiting the Spitfire Ground at St Lawrence in Canterbury this summer. Music lovers flocked to Lusty Glaze beach outside Newquay for the Sundowner Sessions, sponsored by Asahi, where performers included British pop rock band The Feeling.
KENT Lounge on the Farm
London Aegon Champion
Surrey els Wings and Whe
NEWQUAYs ssion Sundowner Se
ship
Poole British Beach Polo Championships
Canterbury Kent Cricket
Brighton World Record Beer Opening
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IN THE COMMUNITY TOP HONOUR FOR SEASIDE HOTEL The Marine Hotel in Whitstable has been named Pub of the Year in the annual Shepherd Neame Pub Awards. Judges praised manager Kathryn Gracey for her dedicated efforts which delivered phenomenal business growth. It was among 14 of the brewery’s 348 pubs and hotels across London and the South East honoured in a glittering ceremony at the Conningbrook Hotel in Ashford.
Kathryn Gracey and Jonathan Neame
Awards were given for various aspects of running a successful pub, such as pulling the perfect pint, serving consistently great food and being at the heart of the local community.
REMEMBERING A FIRST WORLD WAR HERO A memorial stone to Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame is to be installed in Faversham town centre. Faversham-born Neame, cousin of the brewery’s founder Percy Beale Neame, was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1914 in honour of his heroic actions during a battle in France. A keen sportsman, in 1924 he also won an Olympic Gold Medal as part of the shooting team in the Running Deer competition, making him the only man to hold both an Olympic Gold Medal and VC. The memorial stone will be unveiled on Friday, December 19, exactly 100 years to the day since Neame was awarded his VC.
ROLL OUT THE BARREL Shepherd Neame was once again the official partner for this year’s Faversham Hop Festival. It was the 25th year of the free two-day event, which commemorates the golden days of hop picking in Kent. To mark the anniversary, staff from the brewery carried out a ceremonial rolling of a barrel of beer through the streets into the town’s St Mary of Charity Church. Shepherd Neame pubs in the town also joined in the celebrations, hosting live music throughout the weekend. Rolling down the aisle at St. Mary’s, Faversham
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