Master Brewer - Autumn 2016

MASTER

BREWER

www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Autumn 2016

NEW LOOK FOR BRITAIN’S OLDEST BREWER We are enormously proud to be Britain’s Oldest Brewer.

No organisation survives for more than 300 years without innovating and reinventing itself to change with society.

This new look Master Brewer is just a small part of an exciting new brand identity for the entire business. From the brewery across to our pub estate and through to our beers, you will soon start to see our new logo and other changes. We think this better reflects Shepherd Neame in the 21st century, particularly the breadth of our operation, from coastal hotels to quaint ale houses in the City, from traditional Kentish cask ales to canned craft beer.

We are continuing to take advantage of opportunities in the market, most notably through the acquisition of eight high quality pubs, all of which are in fantastic locations. We welcome their licensees to Shepherd Neame and look forward to working with them to continue their efforts to build thriving pubs for their communities.

Elsewhere, our brewers have devised some excellent new beers.

Following on from the huge success of Spitfire Gold, we now have Spitfire Lager – the Lager of Britain. This further extension ensures the brand has the widest possible appeal. Meanwhile, Whitstable Bay Red is another addition to a range of beers which is going from strength-to-strength both in pubs and supermarkets.

Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive @jbneame

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SHEPHERD NEAME HAS A FRESH NEW LOOK We decided it was time for our company identity to be revitalised, to better reflect who we are and what we mean to everyone who interacts with us in the 21st century.

The extensive project includes introducing a new logo, a broader palette of corporate colours and a more contemporary feel for items which promote the company, such as

staff clothing, pub signage and glassware – also this new-look Master Brewer magazine.

This new identity will cascade throughout our pubs and beers over the coming months.

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BREWERY NEWS Our engineers and brewers have been very busy over the past six months, as we’ve undertaken some major investments at our historic brewery.

We have started a project to replace the brewhouse roof and make other decorative enhancements, which will be completed by Christmas.

Shipwrights from Faversham Creek were also called in to deconstruct our two solid teak mash tuns used in the brewing process. We have just finished installing two brand new tuns in the brewhouse, clad using wood from the old tuns.

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AN HISTORIC CRAFT Faversham shipwright Simon Grillet led the work to clad the new stainless steel mash tuns in the historic wood.

Simon, who lives in the town and has been a shipwright for more than 40 years, had worked on the mash tuns before, undertaking small repairs, and was delighted to take on the challenging project.

He said: “We had to essentially convert them from wooden cooking pots to covers for boiling hot radiators. We set up test pieces in the brewhouse to see how they reacted, then dried and steamed the wood before covering it in a special coating.

Each piece of wood had to be reshaped to fit around the new mash tuns. It was a very peculiar puzzle to solve, and initially caused a few sleepless nights, but they are 100-year-old vessels made from fabulous Burmese teak, prized for its durability and beauty, so it was a very worthwhile project.�

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BEER NEWS WHITSTABLE BAY COLLECTION UNVEILS NEW RED IPA Fans of our Whitstable Bay collection are sure to enjoy new Whitstable Bay Red IPA. Deep red in colour, Whitstable Bay Red IPA (4.5% ABV) is a rich, full bodied beer combining the citrus fruit and pine aromas of an IPA with roasted and caramel malt flavours.

The introduction of Red IPA follows the huge success of the collection - comprising Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager, Whitstable Bay Organic Ale and Whitstable Bay Black Oyster Stout - since it was launched in 2013.

The collection has also received national accolades for its design, most recently being honoured with a DBA Design Effectiveness Award earlier this year.

Whitstable Bay Red IPA went on sale in 500ml bottle and on draught this month.

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MEET THE NEW LAGER OF BRITAIN Spitfire is one of Britain’s most popular beer brands and we have just unveiled an exciting new addition to the collection: Spitfire Lager.

Spitfire Lager (4% ABV) is a smooth, refreshing golden lager featuring lager and crystal malts, and Herkules hops.

Stand-out on the bar is guaranteed by its bespoke Spitfire tap handle and textured gun metal font, reminiscent of the iconic plane’s body work.

It has been available on keg nationwide since the beginning of June and is proving a huge success.

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PUB AWARDS FULL LIST OF WINNING PUBS AND LICENSEES

This year’s winners with Jonathan Neame

Pub of the Year The Britannia in Guildford

Manager of the Year Paul Brown with his team

WINNERS OF 2016 SHEPHERD NEAME PUB AWARDS UNVEILED The Britannia in Guildford was named Pub of the Year in our annual Shepherd Neame Pub Awards. It was among 13 pubs honoured at the Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford, in June.

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Awards were given to recognise excellence in a variety of areas, including beer knowledge and service, food presentation and consistency, and community involvement.

Outstanding Achievement Award – Sportsman, Seasalter Shepherd Neame Pub of the Year – Britannia, Guildford Managed Business of the Year – Bell Hotel, Sandwich Manager of the Year – Paul Brown at the Ship and Trades, Chatham Tenanted Pub of the Year – Compasses, Crundale New Licensee of the Year – Michael O’Reilly at the Poyntz Arms, East Molesey Restaurant of the Year – Kings Head, Wye Pub Food of the Year – King Henry VIII, Edenbridge Turnaround Pub of the Year – Red Lion, Chelwood Gate Beer Hero – Globe Inn, Hythe; Mabel’s Tavern, London Heart of the Community Pub of the Year – Plough and Horses, Farnborough Best Floral Display – Adelaide, Teddington

EIGHT NEW PUBS FOR OUR ESTATE We are delighted to welcome eight new pubs boasting fantastic locations in Kent, Sussex and Surrey to our estate.

They are the Chequer Inn, Steyning, The Sussex Oak, Warnham and the Crown & Anchor, Shoreham by Sea, in West Sussex; Kent pubs The Farm House in West Malling, Earls in Maidstone and The Greyhound in Keston; and the Hen & Chickens in Bisley and The Kings Head in Guildford, both in Surrey.

It takes our total number of pubs across London and the South East to 335.

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IMPROVING OUR PUBS During the past six months we have invested a record amount in our pubs, as we continue working with our licensees to improve the quality of the offer available to customers.

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The Crown in Blackheath

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE ACROSS OUR ESTATE Since April 2016 we have completed internal and external refurbishments of 35 pubs. These have ranged from a £250,000 makeover for seaside pub restaurant the

Coastguard in St Margaret’s Bay near Dover, to a £137,000 refurbishment of traditional Victorian pub The Adelaide in Teddington, and £45,000 on a new wine

bar at The Crown in Blackheath. Our aim with our investment projects is always to update the pubs while ensuring they retain their unique character and atmosphere.

The Adelaide in Teddington

The Cricketers in Canterbury

The Coastguard in St Margaret’s Bay

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Ship and Trades in Chatham Maritime

STAY WITH US Relax in style at one of our hotels and inns, each with its own unique character, located in some stunning locations around the county.

If you’ve been dreaming of a special getaway, Kent has it all. Its reputation as the ‘Garden of England’ is well deserved.

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If you are looking for a seaside escape, we have just completed a £650,000 refurbishment project at the Royal Albion in Broadstairs, located on the clifftop overlooking Viking Bay (pictured above left and centre). Work included building a new conservatory which boasts spectacular sea views, remodelling the hotel’s à la carte restaurant and re-landscaping the garden.

Also in Kent, the Ship and Trades in Chatham Maritime (pictured below) has just undergone a £1.2 million refurbishment and expansion. There are four new en-suite rooms on the first floor, two with spacious waterfront balconies. On the ground floor is a new wrap-around restaurant with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the marina, and visitors can dine al fresco on

the waterside terrace. You can also enjoy a comfortable stay at the White Horse Inn in the historic town of Maldon, close to the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. We recently completed a major two-month refurbishment of the traditional inn, at a cost of £240,000. The work included giving its five en-suite rooms a stylish and contemporary new look.

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GREAT FOOD PUB’S 100% GLUTEN-FREE MENU PROVES A HUGE SUCCESS

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR COUNTRY PUB’S FOOD OFFER

A new 100% gluten-free menu at The Duke of Edinburgh in Barming near Maidstone is a huge hit with customers.

The Compasses in Crundale near Canterbury has been named South East Local Restaurant of the Year in the Good Food Guide.

The pub introduced food for the first time in March this year following a £130,000 refurbishment. Licensee Adam Phillips teamed up with chef Paul Larcombe, and the pair came up with the idea of a glutenfree menu as Paul’s three-year-old daughter Layla suffers from coeliac disease.

It is the latest accolade for the country pub run by husband and wife team Rob (pictured left) and Donna Taylor, which is also shortlisted for Best Food Pub in this year’s Great British Pub Awards.

The Gastropub-style menu features a variety of dishes to be enjoyed in a tapas style such as mini fish and chips and mini pork and apple burgers, and oven-baked flat breads.

It has received rave reviews, with customers regularly travelling down from London and across Kent to enjoy the new menu.

Celebrity chef Phil Vickery has also supported the pub on Twitter.

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Gluten-free tiger prawn cocktail and herb flat bread at the Duke of Edinburgh

Donna looks after front-of-house while Rob works as head chef, and his food has already received a host of accolades, including Kent Life Food and Drink Awards Winner 2015; Waitrose Good Food Guide 2015 and Harden’s UK Restaurant Guide 2015. He has just gone through to the semi-finals of the 2016 National Chef of the Year Competition.

The Compasses was also named Tenanted Pub of the Year in the this year’s Shepherd Neame Pub Awards.

FRESH NEW IDEAS ON THE MENU FOR OUR FOOD TEAM

TASTY VICTORY FOR CHEF IN BEEF BUTTY COMPETITION

SEASIDE PUB HONOURED WITH TOP FOOD AWARD

We are delighted to welcome Dan Sidders and Gareth Finney to our head office team.

The business partners were previously tenants at five of our Kent pubs, which have just transferred to our managed estate. They built a great reputation for food, focusing on modern British and Mexican cuisine, and are now working with us to run these pubs and others and expand our food offer.

Two of our top chefs battled it out to be crowned winner of the Great British Beef Butty competition, organised in April to mark Great British Beef Week. Tony Smith, head chef at the New Flying Horse in Wye, was shortlisted along with Alistair Lycett, head chef at the Sun Inn, Faversham, where the competition was held. Alistair won with his Steak and Mushroom Club Sandwich which included a red wine jus.

The Sportsman in Seasalter near Whitstable has been named National Restaurant of the Year. Brothers Phil and Stephen Harris took on the pub in 1999. It has since become one of the UK’s most renowned dining destinations, gaining a Michelin star and acclaim on a national and international scale. Other awards this year include the UK’s Top Gastropub, GQ’s Best Pub and Shepherd Neame’s Outstanding Achievement.

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STANDING OUT Brewery staff welcomed the (then) Prime Minister David Cameron and Faversham MP Helen Whately in June ahead of the EU Referendum

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR BEERS

OUR VISITOR CENTRE IS OFFICIALLY EXCELLENT!

Our beers are officially world class! We won medals in this year’s International Beer Challenge Awards for Whitstable Bay Blonde, Classic Collection Double Stout, 1698, and Classic Collection India Pale Ale.

Our Visitor Centre has won its fourth Certificate of Excellence award from the world’s largest travel website TripAdvisor.

The award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor.

We also scooped top honours in the 2016 British Bottlers’ Institute competition, winning awards for Classic Collection India Pale Ale, Classic Collection Double Stout and Asahi Super Dry. Head brewer Richard Frost said: “We are delighted to have been recognised at a national and international level for our beers. We are passionate about brewing and it is great to see our efforts celebrated by industry experts.”

TWO TOP HONOURS FOR SHEPS’ CHIEF EXECUTIVE Our chief executive Jonathan Neame has received two top honours in the past few months.

He was presented with an award for Outstanding Industry Contribution at this year’s Publican Awards. It was given in recognition of Mr Neame’s campaigning on behalf of the industry during his time as British Beer and Pub Association chairman.

He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent in recognition for his services to business and Kent.

His father Robert Neame, President of Shepherd Neame (pictured with Jonathan) also received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2008.

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It is the latest in a string of awards in recent months for the Visitor Centre and its staff.

They include a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service in the Beautiful South Tourism Awards, and VisitEngland Best Told Story award.