Master Brewer - Spring 2017

MASTER

BREWER

www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Spring 2017

ALL CHANGE, PLEASE Change – paradoxically – is the only constant. There is so much uncertainty at present: politically, socially and economically. So it’s no surprise that people are increasingly demanding when they choose to relax and unwind. We remain ever-mindful of what motivates our customers: a warm welcome, friendly service and cherished moments and occasions that make for a better day.

Also at the brewery, a major refurbishment of the brew house is near completion. It has been restored to a quality which befits such a historically significant site. Brewing and brand innovation continues, with Kentish Saison, flavoured with elderflower, recently launched on cask plus a new look for our flagship beer Spitfire Amber Kentish Ale.

To this end, we are delighted with the addition of five pub restaurants to our estate, their combination of high profile locations and excellent quality food are in line with our strategy to enhance our offer and improve the customer experience.

The rollout of Shepherd Neame’s new corporate identity continues and we are proud to unveil our new look pub signage (opposite), which ensures our pubs remain attractive places to visit, an inviting and welcoming constant…regardless of what changes may come.

I would like to congratulate and thank the numerous licensees who have won awards for their businesses in the past six months. It is testament to their hard work and entrepreneurship.

We are also delighted to have been nominated in both the Best Tenanted and Best Managed Operator categories of our industry Oscars: The Publican Awards.

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Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive @jbneame

WELCOMING NEW LOOK FOR OUR PUBS As part of our new look we are rolling out a programme of unique, newly-designed bespoke pub signs, each reflecting the individual character and history of the pub and the fresh outlook of our pubs and hotels.

Pub signs offer a fascinating insight in to our nation’s history, dating back to Roman times when taverns would hang the branches of evergreens outside to symbolise Bacchus, the god of wine, giving rise to one of the first pub names: The Bush.

In the reign of Richard II it was decreed that all pubs must hang a sign outside or lose their licence, and at time when most people couldn’t read a symbol sufficed to identify a pub, resulting in the pub names that survive to this day.

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Oak on the Green, Bearsted

NEW PUB RESTAURANTS

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We are delighted to welcome five new pubrestaurants in the heart of Kent to our estate.

They are: Oak on the Green, Bearsted; Fish on the Green, Bearsted; The Old Mill, Kennington; The Chequers on the Green, High Halden; and The Swan and Dog, Great Chart.

The new additions will be operated under our managed pub division and enjoy an excellent reputation for food quality and service, offering home-cooked meals made from locally sourced ingredients.

The purchase of these pub-restaurants is part of our strategy to acquire high quality sites with unique character in landmark and high profile locations. Their acquisition also reinforces our commitment to enhancing our customers’ experience through great fresh food.

Fish on the Green, Bearsted

The Old Mill, Kennington

The Old Mill, Kennington

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The Gate Inn, Boyden Gate

INVESTING IN GREAT PUBS

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Manor Farm Barn, Southfleet

We are always seeking to keep our pubs fresh and upto-date with an ongoing programme of refurbishment.

Manor Farm Barn in Southfleet reopened in December after a month-long ÂŁ350,000 refurbishment and the East Kent in Whitstable has undergone a three month ÂŁ275,000 transformation.

East Kent Hotel, Whitstable

Manor Farm Barn, Southfleet

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The Royal, Tankerton

We recently completed the £134,000 renovation of the popular seafront pub The Royal in Tankerton, near Whitstable and the £150,000 refurbishment of The Plough in Farnham, Surrey.

An £80,000 refurbishment project has been completed at The Gate Inn in the village of Boyden Gate near Canterbury, including the creation of a new bar area, built from recycled hop poles and an extension to the kitchen to meet demand.

The Grapes, Gravesend

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The Plough, Farnham

The Grapes in Gravesend has undergone a £60,000 transformation into a stylish bar with a new wooden floor and the creation of a new patio area. The bar has also been refurbished and the toilets given a complete overhaul.

The Gate Inn, Boyden Gate

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The Ostrich, Colnbrook

STAY WITH US Relax in style at one of our hotels and inns, each with its own unique character, located in some of the most stunning surroundings in the South East.

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The Ostrich, Colnbrook

Modern travellers and history lovers will enjoy the historic coaching inn The Ostrich in Colnbrook, Berkshire, which has recently reopened following a £1.1 million refurbishment.

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims with a stay at the award-winning pub the Kings Head in Wye, Kent. This historic village on the route to St Thomas a Becket’s shrine was voted the third best place to live in the UK in a Sunday Times poll, and it is easy to see why, surrounded by some of Kent’s most beautiful countryside and just 15 minutes by train from the historic city of Canterbury.

The Ostrich is the third oldest inn in England, dating back to 1106, just 40 years after the Norman Conquest. The Ostrich’s historic character has been restored and it now boasts 11 en-suite bedrooms. Situated just five miles from Heathrow, it is a great alternative to airport hotels and a stylish way to start your holiday.

The Kings Head has just undergone a £150,000 project to create four new en-suite rooms for guests, taking the total to seven en-suite doubles.

The Bell Hotel, Sandwich

The Bell Hotel, Sandwich has been welcoming visitors since Tudor times and occupies a picturesque spot overlooking the River Stour, not far from the landing site of the Roman invasion of AD 43.

The building has evolved gradually over the centuries, having been significantly remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries and subject to significant refurbishment in recent years. The rooms have just received a refreshing overhaul, retaining many original features and continuing to marry historical charm with modern comfort and style, perfect for a weekend escape.

The Ostrich, Colnbrook

The Kings Head, Wye

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Rob Taylor (centre) picking up the Best Chef Award

GREAT FOOD Our pubs and hotels are consistently deemed to be among the best in the business, ranging in style from traditional pub grub to Michelin-starred cuisine. Here is a selection of the latest accolades:

KENT PUBS HONOURED Rob Taylor, head chef at The Compasses, Crundale has been voted the nation’s best gastropub chef.

Rob, who is co-licensee of the pub with wife Donna, won the accolade at the prestigious Estrella Damm Gastropub Awards 2017.

The Compasses was also 17th on the list of the UK’s best 50 gastropubs along with fellow Shepherd Neame pubs The King’s Head in Wye (25th) and The Sportsman in Seasalter (2nd).

The competition is decided by votes from a wealth of industry experts including top chefs and food writers and was won by The Sportsman for the last two years.

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The Sportsman, run by brothers Steve and Phil Harris, has held a Michelin star for eight years and was named the UK’s best restaurant in the National Restaurant Awards 2016.

Elsewhere, The Compasses and the Cock Inn in Boughton Monchelsea, run by licensees Dave and Jo Whitehurst, made the shortlist for pub of the year in the 2016 Kent Life and Kent on Sunday Food and Drink Awards.

The Cock Inn dates back to the 16th century and is situated in picturesque countryside just four miles from Leeds Castle near Maidstone. It boasts many original features and is known for its great country cooking.

COUNTRY PUB OFFERS BEST ROAST IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND The Granville near Canterbury officially offers the Best British Roast Dinner in the South of England.

It received the accolade having been nominated by Mirror newspaper readers and selected by a panel of judges, including renowned food critic and Masterchef regular Charles Campion.

Licensee Jim Cleaver said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, particularly as The Granville has been selected from nearly 2,000 nominations. We pride ourselves on offering exciting, delicious food and friendly service, and it is great to have our team’s hard work recognised in this way.”

PUB’S GLUTEN-FREE MENU ATTRACTS NATIONAL ATTENTION The Duke of Edinburgh in Barming near Maidstone was shortlisted for Best Pub Restaurant in the national FreeFrom Eating Out Awards.

The pub launched a 100% gluten-free menu in March 2016, which has been a huge success, with customers regularly travelling from London and across Kent, and support from celebrity chef Phil Vickery on Twitter.

It was one of eight independent pub restaurants across the UK shortlisted for the honour in the awards, which recognise excellence in catering for allergic, Coeliac and ‘free from’ customers.

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BEER NEWS

KENTISH SAISON PUTS A SPRING IN YOUR STEP A seasonal ale that celebrates the flavours of the Garden of England heralds the advent of springtime.

Kentish Saison (4.5% ABV) is made with Kentish elderflower, adding a floral aroma to the peppery spiced notes of locally-grown hops. This unusual pairing, combined with pale and crystal malts, results in a refreshing pale golden ale with a subtle bitterness.

As a product of the No. 18 Yard Brewhouse, Kentish Saison forms part of a range of experimental limited edition beers.

INDUSTRY ACCLAIM FOR SHEPHERD NEAME BRANDS Spitfire has a new look and is being rebranded to Spitfire Amber Kentish Ale. The new logo has a cleaner, fresher and more simple style, reflecting the classic but modern nature of the beer.

The red, white and blue of the RAF remain, but with the striking emphasis of Royal Blue as the prominent tone and the Royal Warrant of HRH the Prince of Wales is also proudly displayed.

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The iconic outline of the fighter plane from which the beer takes its name remains elegantly rendered, consistent with the origins and the evolution of our flagship beer. Look out for the new pump clip and the new 500ml bottle Premium Kentish Ale was honoured at the national Beer Marketing Awards for the second year in a row. It won Best Use of Competitions in recognition of its Fly A Spitfire Campaign, organised to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Head Brewer Richard Frost said: “Traditionally, Saison beers were produced on farms for seasonal workers and flavoured with whatever was at hand.

“Kentish Saison represents the happy marriage of that tradition with modern techniques and tastes, epitomising the spirit of Shepherd Neame.”

In addition to elderflower, Kentish Saison is made with Challenger, Cascade, East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops.

Kentish Saison will be available on cask nationwide throughout March and April.

NOW IN CANS

HOPS360° - VIRTUAL REALITY IN A KENTISH HOP GARDEN

Hog Island East Coast Pale Ale (4.8% ABV) is now available in 330ml cans. The beer is named after a now landlocked island in the creek, which is now part of the brewery site.

Hops are at the heart of everything we do at Shepherd Neame, but the way they are used is little known outside of Kent.

American Amarillo and Cascade hops are combined with Boadicea hops from Kent, plus pale ale and crystal malts, to create a deep golden beer boasting citrus, pine and fruit aromas melded with light caramel notes and a robust bitterness.

SHEPS TAKES GOLD IN LA The Shepherd Neame corporate identity redesign, created by brand experts JDO, has won a gold at the Mobius awards in Los Angeles and was shortlisted for Best of Show in the branding category.

The Mobius Awards is regarded as the Oscars of the design industry and is held annually in Redondo Beach.

In our new film HOPS360°, Tony Redsell, the ‘Godfather of British hops’ takes viewers on a journey telling the story of British hops.

It also gives them the chance to witness hop picking and drying first hand.

The film was shot at Parsonage Farm, near Boughton in Kent, just a few miles from Shepherd Neame’s historic Faversham Brewery, in ultra-high-definition (4k). It can be seen online at our You Tube Channel www.youtube.com/shepherdneame and on a VR headset at various events throughout the year.

WHITSTABLE BAY MAKES WAVES New tap handles will also soon be appearing for our award-winning Whitstable Bay range: Blonde Lager, Pale Ale, Red IPA and Black.

These stylish new handles were inspired by the sails of the 19th century Thames barge that features on the logos of the Whistable Bay beers.

The taps also feature an image of a barge in full sail set against the backdrop of a setting sun. One such barge, the Greta, built in 1892, still plies its trade from Whistable, albeit for pleasure trips rather than the carriage of goods, and is sponsored by Shepherd Neame.

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BEER GARDEN AMONG BEST IN UK The beer garden of the Belle Vue Tavern in Pegwell Bay near Ramsgate has been voted one of the nation’s best.

The Belle Vue came second in the SME Insurance’s Best Beer Garden competition having been nominated by members of the public and judged by a team of experts from the beer industry Licensee Tony Pearson said he was “delighted” the Belle Vue had been recognised in this way. The garden at the Belle Vue, as the name suggests, has spectacular views of Pegwell Bay and has a barbecue shack and bar and hosts regular live music evenings in the summer.

TRIBUTE PAID TO LONGSERVING PUB LANDLORD We recently bid a sad farewell to Les Koncsik, Shepherd Neame’s longestserving pub landlord who sadly died at the end of last year.

Les, who worked as a Shepherd Neame licensee in Faversham for 46 years, was originally from Hungary and became licensee at The Kings Head, Abbey Street in 1970, before taking over popular community local Crown and Anchor in 1982.

Chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “Les was a Shepherd Neame institution, and will be greatly missed by all at the brewery. A true gentleman, he was a much-loved and well-respected landlord. He was a unique character, with a very positive outlook on life his beer glass was always half full.”

In 2015 Les was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Shepherd Neame Pub Awards.

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