Master Brewer - Spring 2007

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M A S T E R

BREWER Spring 2007

Bringing People Together www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Our pubs’ role at the heart of community life

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Welcome In this edition of Master Brewer, we celebrate the unique and positive role that pubs play in the community.

With so much concern and comment regarding public houses in recent months, surrounding the smoking ban and licensing act, you may wonder: what is the future of the pub?

We have maintained consistently that, far from being the cause of problems in society, a well-run pub contributes enormously to the social and economic welfare of the local community and is the best place to enjoy alcohol responsibly.

While there has been consistent consumer and legislative change over recent years, some things stay constant. Pubs continue to play a vital role in the UK, particularly in rural villages, where they are increasingly becoming the last bastion of the community. They support charities, provide employment and local investment, not least through their support of local food producers.

The unique position occupied by the British public house places it at the heart of communities, a role relished by the managers and tenants of our 370 public houses.

We decided to quantify that role by asking more than 200 of our licensees across Kent how they felt their public house contributed to their local community and the county as a whole.

The results of our survey, detailed inside, reveal the astonishing number of clubs and social groups that use their local as a meeting place and the thousands of grassroots sportsmen and women who thrive through our support, either through sponsorship or by providing a base for their activities. We have also discovered the enormous sums of money our customers raise for charity.

This research endorses something we have known all along – that a community local is a major force for good and a vital focal point in a society which is becoming increasingly fragmented by technology and social changes.

As a business, we take our impact on society very seriously, and our success in the National Business Awards, in which we won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award, provided welcome recognition of our efforts.

Although Shepherd Neame is committed to its traditional values, we always have an eye on the future, and this edition of Master Brewer also features articles on our preparations for this summer’s smoking ban and our major investments in quality hotel accommodation.

Also in this edition, Miles Templeman explains his role as company chairman.

Finally, we celebrate the winners of our annual Pub Awards, the men and women who work so hard to make our public houses places their communities can be proud of.

Jonathan Neame Chief Executive Shepherd Neame Cover shot taken at Shepherd Neame’s Pub of the Year, The Spitfire, at Kings Hill.

Interim Interimresults results provide strong platform for growth Highlights of the company’s half-year results for the six months ended 30 December, 2006 included: • Turnover up 3.5% to £50.6m • Profit before tax and exceptional items has increased by 9.6% to £5.1m • Earnings per share before exceptional items are up 14.5% to 28.4p • Total beer volumes up 3.4% The business has performed well in all areas; tied trade has continued its recent strong performance with particularly good sales in July, through the autumn, and a strong Christmas. Although the national on trade market continued to decline, the company’s pubs on the whole are performing very well.

Since July, Shepherd Neame has acquired nine freehold pubs for £13.5m and since December has acquired two more at a cost of £1.9m. These investments are part of a strategy to improve the quality of the pub estate.

Managed houses’ like-for-like sales are up 4.8% and the contribution from the tenanted estate has increased by 6.1%. The company has started a programme of investment in outside areas in advance of the smoking ban and expects to have completed projects in half of the company’s pubs by the beginning of July.

There has been growth in key brands, with good cask ale sales for Spitfire, growth in bottle sales for Spitfire and Bishops Finger, and continued excellent progress with Asahi Super Dry. The brewing licence for Asahi Super Dry was extended at the start of January, to cover sales, marketing and distribution for the UK and Ireland. This enhances the company’s presence in the national market.

The brewery’s new cask racking and washing facility is due for completion before the end of the financial year.

Jonathan Neame said: “This has been a period of substantial development of our beer and pub business which, together with the investments we are making in the brewery and IT, give us a strong platform to continue to grow the business.”

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AWARDS SUCCESS

The brewery has won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the prestigious National Business Awards.

Production and distribution director Ian Dixon collected the award at a glittering ceremony held at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London attended by the Countess of Wessex.

Shepherd Neame was among 15 winners in various categories reflecting excellence in every aspect of business practice throughout the UK.

More than 50 independent judges spent three weeks quizzing the 140 finalists. Shepherd Neame was recognised for initiatives on responsible drinking, a sustainable approach to sourcing raw materials, and support for grassroots sport and the community. Judges were impressed with the company’s

innovative ideas, including free bikes for brewery staff willing to give up driving to work and the Local Food from Local People initiative, which reduces food miles.

Jonathan Neame said: “This award is a testament to our efforts to put social responsibility at the heart of everything we do. Shepherd Neame has been around for more than 300 years and we are conscious of our pivotal role within the community.

We also appreciate the need for alcohol retailers to promote the responsible consumption of our products. We hope this dual approach makes us a good neighbour, a good employer and a good company to do business with.”

The company went on to qualify as one of the 10 finalists in the AXA Award for Corporate Sustainability at The European Business Awards Conference and Luncheon at The Conrad, Brussels in January. The category was won by German giant Hewlett Packard. ■

Ian Dixon receiving NBA award from Jo Martin, joint MD of sponsors Arco.

Closer partnership withAsahi

Akira Ohara, managing director of Asahi Breweries (left) and Miles Templeman, chairman of Shepherd Neame sign the agreement

brand. This will build on the brand’s already strong performance in bottle in the restaurant and bar sector.

“In addition, we are currently developing a new marketing campaign with a London advertising agency.” ■

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In December, the brewery signed a UK and Ireland sales and marketing agreement with Asahi Breweries Ltd for Asahi Super Dry. We have produced Asahi Super Dry under an exclusive brewing licence since September 2005 and the agreement now adds distribution, sales and marketing to the deal, which came into force on 1 January.

Asahi Breweries Ltd has a strong European presence in France, Eastern Europe and Russia. The beer for these markets continues to be brewed under licence in the Czech Republic.

Sales and marketing director Graeme Craig said: “As a consequence of this agreement, we will be enhancing our sales force in the national on and off-trade. Draught Asahi Super Dry is increasingly popular and has performed exceptionally well since its launch earlier in the year.

Shepherd Neame will be providing national technical support for the

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N EXCLUSIVE SURVEY by Master Brewer has revealed the astonishing contribution made by Shepherd Neame pubs to their local communities and society.

We interviewed more than 200 licensees across Kent and throughout our managed estate, asking tenants and managers how their pub supported its community.

Community support ranges from providing a place for clubs to meet and socialise and the sponsorship of grassroots sports teams, to raising money for national and local charities.

Our licensees revealed the wealth of services provided by their pubs which have established them as the backbone of their communities.

Shepherd Neame pubs form a base for a huge array of sporting activities supporting literally hundreds of teams playing football, cricket, rugby, golf, darts, snooker, bat and trap and even petanque.

Many of our rural pubs also provide a start and finish point for walking groups and horse-riders.

Pubs with function rooms or meeting areas offer a natural venue for thousands of social and hobby groups, and 56% of the pubs surveyed said they hosted some sort of organised functions, including luncheon clubs, formal and informal community meetings.

The variety is endless and includes bell-ringers, poets, WIs, parish councils, morris dancers, Neighbourhood Watch, book clubs, Weight Watchers, and historical societies.

In rural areas, where vital community services may have been lost, our pubs have stepped in to fill the gap. Three supply a post office counter service, four a cash machine (plus hundreds offering cash-back) and one even has a shop selling groceries. The Wheelwright Arms in Matfield near Tunbridge Wells stepped in to supply essentials to locals after the village shop closed down. A pint of Spitfire can now be ordered with a pint of milk, a tin of tomato soup and half a dozen loo rolls!

Our research highlights the hundreds of thousands of pounds our pubs raise for good causes each year. The range of charities supported by these efforts embraces national and international causes, but the bulk of fund-raising efforts are focused on the needs of Kent.

The most popular ways of raising money are quizzes, raffles

and collection boxes but the most amazing thing about our licensees and their customers is their ingenuity and the variety of ways they find to help people less fortunate than themselves.

Shepherd Neame pubs host such diverse events as music nights, darts contests, karaoke, bring and buy sales, conker championships, crib nights and barbecues.

Outside the pub, our customers raise money for charity by cycling, swimming, racing wheelie bins, building rafts – and even smashing pianos!

Pubs in coastal towns work hard to support the RNLI, for instance, while others raise money for special units in hospitals, the county’s hospices or holidays for disadvantaged children.

Most heart-warming, however,

The beating h of the com

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is the tendency of a pub’s licensee and customers to rally round one of their regulars who has a family member suffering from major health problems, whether it’s to pay for expensive treatment, to buy a wheelchair or simply to finance a morale-boosting holiday.

The work our licensees and customers put into raising money is truly astounding; the Alexandra Hotel in Chatham has raised £10,000 in the last 12 months alone and the Walnut Tree at Aldington near Ashford has raised more than £20,000 over the last three years, partly thanks to licensee Karen Barrett’s deathdefying wing-walks.

Jonathan Neame said: “Our survey shows that the pub really is the hub of the community and the generosity of our customers makes a significant contribution to charities and other good causes across the South East.

“Whether an event organised by a licensee raises thousands, hundreds or even tens of pounds, this survey shows that by people giving what they can afford, and

having a great time doing it, pubs can contribute hugely to the public good.

“The numbers of our pubs providing a meeting place for so many clubs, social groups and sports teams also demonstrates the pivotal role the community pub plays in the fabric of society.” ■

g heart

ommunity What makes a great pub Pubs continue to evolve through the ages which is why they have managed to remain strong today despite many UK institutions falling by the wayside, village shops and local post offices being the most recent victims. A new initiative called Pub is the Hub (PITH) encourages pubs to diversify in order to safeguard their future.

PITH’s John Longden said: “Since we started, five years ago, we’ve helped bring more than 100 post offices and 80 shops to rural pubs. Pubs are truly becoming central to their communities by providing these vital services to otherwise cut-off communities. In turn, they know their communities will support them.”

Speaking at a Clarence House reception celebrating PITH’s fifth anniversary, HRH Prince Charles said: “Rural communities, and this country’s rural way of life, are facing unprecedented challenges. The country pub has been at the heart of village life for centuries.”

His Royal Highness even admitted a fondness for one particular pub favourite: darts.

He said: “My youngest son is a great deal better than I am, but I am doing my best to keep the darts tradition going!” ■

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For centuries, the pub has been one of Britain’s quintessential institutions.

Their longevity is thanks to their core values, staying robust throughout the centuries. But that is not to suggest inflexibility. Whenever necessary, the industry has evolved, withstanding numerous threats, including the rise of social clubs, the emergence of home entertainment, changes to the licensing regime and the forthcoming smoking ban.

Pubs are an essential part of British life and their contribution to society is as broad as it is essential. The 58,000 pubs in the UK provide employment for more than 900,000 people, with Shepherd Neame’s pubs directly and indirectly accounting for 5,000 jobs across its estate.

It is estimated that the company’s pubs and brewery staff raise in excess of £750,000 per year for charity, in many cases contributing towards life-saving services such as the Kent Air Ambulance Trust.

Shepherd Neame pubs invest approximately £100,000 in their local economies per annum.

A further £500,000 is invested in grassroots and first-class sport through sponsorship deals.

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Our community h The Rose and Crown at Wrotham is used as a meeting place by the parish council, cricketers, walkers, bowlers and a 4x4 club.

Staff at the British Queen, Maidstone, hatched and adopted a family of ducklings from a pond at the back of the pub after their mother abandoned the eggs. The pub also hosts a referees’ club.

The Britannia Inn at Shorncliffe held an auction to raise money for the wheelchair-bound 12-year-old son of regulars who has Parkinson’s Disease.

The Bull at Bethersden held a community firework display attended by 500 people.

Regulars at The Golden Lion, Broadoak, raise money for charity by playing bat and trap.

Regulars from The Four Fathoms in Herne Bay raised money for a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer with a sponsored swim.

The Royal Oak at Mersham held a charity pram race on Boxing Day

The Nailbox, in Folkestone organised a pub holiday for 49 regulars to the West County and this year licensees Neil and Lynn Simpson plan to take the whole pub to the races at Folkestone.

Seaview Hotel, Birchington, is to receive an award from Thanet District Council for the efforts of licensees Michael and Julie Hayes to rebuild the pub as a community venue.

The Gardeners Arms in Rochester supports a ladies’ rowing team and raises money for charity with a swearbox.

The Bull Inn at Linton provides a meals on wheels service for the local almshouses.

The Walnut Tree, A

The Chequers Inn at Doddington hosts a post office.

The Prince of Wales, Herne Bay, holds an annual charity walk from Reculver to Minnis Bay led by landlord Graham Dash’s black Labrador Max. In July and August, the pub runs a Leo Club, in which 50 customers who are Leos celebrate their birthday together.

The Royal Oak in Crockham Hill, Edenbridge sponsors the Crockham Hill Bonfire Society and together with a contribution from the brewery, saved the event when it appeared in jeopardy last year.

The Plough and Harrow at Bridge provides a meeting place for off road drivers, actors, pigeon-fanciers, young farmers and traction engine enthusiasts.

The Royal Hotel, Sheerness, provides a base for The Big Fish Band and Theatre Trust, Spanish lessons, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Looney Party!

The Rose and Crown at Elham raised money for charity last year with an antiques fair, a car treasure hunt – and a sponsored piano-smashing event!

Survey reveals Licensing Act success A survey commissioned by Shepherd Neame shows fears expressed by some members of the public and the media ahead of the introduction of the Licensing Act have proved unfounded.

The successful implementation of the Act is reinforced by the research which included the views of licensing officers responsible for more than 80% of pubs and clubs in Kent. It reveals 92% of them believe the introduction

has been a change for the better for communities.

The study was carried out to monitor the impact of the Act after its first year. Of Shepherd Neame’s 270 pubs in Kent, none applied for 24-hour opening and 100% of licensing officers in the county believe the company has acted responsibly throughout the introduction and implementation of the new regulations.

The Bull Inn, St Leonards has raised £6,000 for local charitie

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y heroes The Orb at Margate raises most of its charity cash through fines paid by members of The Winkle Club. Winkles are on sale for £1 each from behind the bar. Any Winkle Club member challenged to “Winkle Up” by a fellow member anywhere in the world who is caught without his or her winkle must pay a fine to charity.

Oranges Bar, Ashford, raises charity cash through comedy revues, poetry nights and music events.

The New Inn at Whitstable recruited ballroom dancing experts to judge its Strictly Come Dancing Night, in which regulars donned black tie and sequins to trip the light fantastic for Children in Need.

They’re a fit bunch at the Neptunes Hall, Broadstairs – on New Year’s Day, 25 regulars continued he Walnut Tree, Aldington raises charity money with a raft race a six-year tradition of taking a charity dip in Viking Bay. In the summer, the pub runs a charity bike ride.

The Chequers Inn at Heaverham is a home to badminton and tennis clubs.

Regulars at The Saddler in Minster hold regular sponsored bike rides along the coast to raise money for worthy causes.

The Three Horseshoes at Staple Street sells books and holds an annual wheelie bin race for charity.

The Royal Oak in Southborough hosts a widowers’ club once a month.

The All Party Parliamentary Beer Group is responsible for protecting the British pub’s unique role in society. They are currently working to highlight the culprits behind excessive drinking.

Honorary secretary Robert Humphreys tells Master Brewer what’s happening in Westminster.

The responsible retailing of alcohol is the issue of the moment in Parliamentary circles. The Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, John Grogan MP, made much of the issue in his speech to the BII National Industry Training Awards in November, and he returned to the theme at the Group’s Christmas reception in the House of Commons two weeks later.

On the following day he tabled an Early Day Motion, claiming: “The substantial price differential between alcohol sold in pubs and that sold in the offtrade is exacerbating the problem of binge drinking.”

Early Day Motions are a mechanism to enable backbench MPs to bring issues of concern to the attention of the House and the wider public. They do not necessarily lead to any further parliamentary action but they are generally taken by Government as a broad guide to the strength of feeling in Parliament on the topic with which they deal.

John Grogan MP has now called upon the chief executives of the four major supermarkets to attend a meeting of the Parliamentary Beer Group in April for a discussion on this issue, and further steps are likely in the months ahead. Few people in the industry, or for that matter in Parliament and Government, would wish to see a return to retail price controls, especially if the result was that alcohol were made a special case under competition law, but in the absence of a robust and effective self-regulated regime, which eliminated the present practices, some kind of intervention is almost inevitable. The Competition Commission’s recent interim report on supermarket practices confirms that beer is one of a small handful of product categories where loss leading practices occur.

When the on-trade has made such substantial strides towards the elimination of irresponsible pricing, the pressure is now clearly on the off-trade to do the same.

When it comes to competitive behaviour, alcohol has to be treated as a special case.

Robert Humphreys Honorary Secretary

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00 for local charities in the last year

Political support for the Great British Pub

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aster Brewer looks at how Shepherd Neame and its licensees are preparing for this summer’s smoking ban.

1 July 2007 will see England follow in the footsteps of Ireland and Scotland with an outright ban on smoking in public places. The ban will include every pub, club and restaurant – in fact every workplace and public transport – in England without exemption.

Amid the speculation about the effect this will have on the pub trade, one thing is certain. The licensees who are planning ahead and are fully prepared will be in the strongest position to serve all of their customers.

The last 12 months have seen the brewery working proactively with all its licensees to minimise disruption to their business and identify opportunities with the ban in mind.

Over 90% of the brewery’s pubs have outside spaces, which will be enhanced or transformed to the tune of £3 million to accommodate smokers in attractive outdoor areas.

The ‘smoke-easy’ scheme – as it has become known – is now well under way, with many already completed. As with the company’s pub refurbishments, the ‘smoke-easy’ facilities have been constructed to be appropriate to the individual pub and offer comfortable, pleasant environments for all customers.

Lighting, heating and the use of canopies, pergolas, hedges and walls have been selected with both the comfort of the customer and their environmental credentials in mind.

As well as adding new facilities to ensure that smokers are well catered for, the brewery is all too aware of other opportunities which a smoking ban may present.

Our pubs continue to expand and improve their menu of locally sourced,

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Inside O

seasonal food with a view to satisfying increased dining opportunities.

We also recognise the chance to attract potential customers and licensees, who have previously been deterred from spending time in a smoky environment.

Shepherd Neame licensees are largely positive about the effect the ban will have on their business.

Says Mark Copestake, licensee of The White Hart, Canterbury: “I’m optimistic about how we will fare, although I think the pub trade in general may suffer if Ireland is anything to go by. ”We are certainly taking full advantage of the ban with excellent outdoor facilities in place. I think we are in as strong a position as we can be.” Others share this confidence and also think that the timing of the

introduction of the ban is helpful.

Says Sue Coughlan, licensee of The Sun Inn, Faversham: “60% of our pub is already non-smoking with a large area given over to dining. When we introduced a 50% smoking ban at the bar our customers abided by it very quickly.

“The summer is a good time to introduce the ban as people will naturally go outdoors anyway, so it will help smooth the transition.”

Licensees also recognise the opportunity to increase their food focus.

“From first-hand experience of the ban in Ireland, I’m concerned about the effect on pubs, particularly in the first year, but I do think that more people will want food so we’re looking to increase our food offering,” says Colm Lynch, licensee of The Hop Pole, Wandsworth.

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e Out

Here is a selection of the ‘smokeeasies’ at Shepherd Neame pubs: The Vine, Tenterden Screened by beech hedging and a contemporary oak wall, a section of the outdoor area adjoining the rear of the pub has been enhanced. A canopy umbrella, bespoke table and slatetopped seating are in a similar style to the new-look pub, which re-opened its doors in April 2006 following an extensive refurbishment.

The area, which accommodates around eight to ten people standing and seated, provides a sheltered, pleasant spot for both smokers and non-smokers.

The White Hart, Canterbury A large decked area in the garden has

been covered with huge umbrellas to offer some protection from weather. Heating and lighting have been installed and an outside TV screen showing Sky Sports will provide entertainment.

The Rose Inn, Rainham A patio has been laid complete with a canvas awning roof and heaters for added customer comfort.

The Hop Pole, Wandsworth An enclosed courtyard has been transformed with a canvas awning and

heaters. Benches will provide seating and new planting will be installed to brighten up the courtyard.

The Sun Inn, Faversham In keeping with this historic pub, a wooden pergola with medieval oak framing has been constructed in the garden. The pergola is complete with a stretched canvas roof, heating which can be switched on and off by customers and low-energy LED accent lighting.

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The company has invested heavily in its accommodation in recent months, with major hotel acquisitions and large-scale refurbishments to reinvigorate our existing properties. Here we look at the latest line-up of investments in accommodation houses across the managed estate.

utting a p a

The Marine Hotel, Tankerton

The Marine Hotel, which sits on the Tankerton cliffs near Whitstable, is a popular, friendly ‘local’ for its regular customers as well as a hotel destination. It offers 31 ensuite bedrooms, 16 of which have sea views.

The building, which was built in 1906 and was used as a hospital in World War II, has been transformed by a £670,000 development, which is due to be completed this Easter.

Externally, the hotel now boasts a smart redecoration and railings and jumberellas (large patio umbrellas with heating and lighting) will be erected, creating a comfortable seating area with views out to sea.

Inside, a stylish, new restaurant seats 50 customers. The room is luxuriously furnished with the highest quality furniture, thick carpets, curtains and leather seating. There’s even a table-for-two tucked away in an alcove for those with a sense of romance!

The Marine has a new function room, the Maunsell Room, which is housed downstairs in the former snooker room. Like many things at the Marine, its name makes a thoughtful reference to the local area, in this case the Maunsell Sea Forts which were built off the coast to protect the Thames Estuary during World

P style Royal Albion Hotel, Broadstairs

In October 2006, the company acquired one of the Kent coast’s finest hotels, The Royal Albion Hotel at Broadstairs, which offers the highest quality accommodation in a unique setting.

War II. It is a self-contained function room with separate entrance, bar, toilets and catering area. This comfortable room, which is licensed for weddings, suits up to 100 guests.

Behind the scenes, a major part of the development will create a state-of-the-art kitchen. David Feasey who, together with wife Glynis has managed the Marine for 10 years, said: “Our kitchen has such a high output of food – we served 6,000 meals in December alone – that the facilities have to be right. We’re now known as the top banqueting venue in this area.”

The room has been split into large cooking, preparation and washup areas and will be fully airconditioned. Food storage areas, including cold rooms and freezers, will be housed on the floor below, linked to the kitchen by a new service lift.

Air-conditioning and power showers will be installed in the bedrooms with new boiler and hot water systems to provide a ready supply of hot water.

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A warm welcome

a premium on and comfort

e

The hotel was built in 1760, and occupies an unrivalled position on the seafront in the heart of the old town, just a few steps from a sandy beach.

Charles Dickens was a regular guest and each year the hotel takes part in a festival celebrating his associations with the town.

The hotel, which has a main entrance in Albion Street, has 18 ensuite bedrooms and a suite of rooms called the Dickens Suite. All

“We’re really excited about the Royal Albion: the potential there is fantastic. Because Shepherd Neame has only just acquired the hotel it will be wonderful to be involved from the start and see the changes. We’re very happy at the Millers so it will be a challenge to move away, but it was an opportunity we simply couldn’t resist.

When we look at the success Shepherd Neame has had with places like the Royal Hotel at Deal and think about the plans for this hotel it really excites us.”

Shane and Marie will head the team of existing staff, which includes Tricia McKeown, who will be one of two assistant managers. Marie said: “We’re delighted to have Tricia on our team. She is extremely knowledgeable both about the area and the hotel itself. The Royal has many regular customers who she knows well – even down to which room is their favourite.

That kind of attention to detail is invaluable.”

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rooms have sea views or overlook the town, and the hotel also boasts an atmospheric bar and restaurant with sea views, a decked terrace and garden leading onto the beach.

Run as a successful family business, it has developed an enviable reputation for fine food and hospitality among local residents and visitors to the town.

Shepherd Neame plans to invest in the property over the next two years, bringing facilities up to date and improving the interior and exterior decorations.

Phase one will involve full landscaping of the garden and initial improvements to the bar area, with new furniture and some redecoration.

The main redevelopment of the hotel interior, including the bedrooms, will take place during phase two, and Shepherd Neame aims to create a fresh feel without losing any of the building’s character.

The hotel bar and tea and coffee lounge will be improved and the function room developed. Toilet facilities will be refurbished and disabled access included where possible.

Shane and Marie Godwin are the new managers of the Royal Albion Hotel.

They currently manage another busy accommodation house, The Millers Arms in Canterbury and, together with their young daughter, Eleni Scarlett, will relocate to Broadstairs this spring.

Shane is originally from Australia and has eight years experience in the catering and hotel industry. His first encounter with Shepherd Neame was while travelling in the UK, when he worked at the Bishops Finger in London.

After moving back to Australia he met Marie who was there travelling and they decided to return to the UK together.

Since then the couple have managed Ye Olde Beverlie, Canterbury and the Millers Arms, where they have been for two years. Marie said: “We’re very proud of the Millers and our team here – it is such a joy to show customers to their rooms and see their faces light up.

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Pub Awards 2007

Brendan McBride, licensee of The Spitfire, Kings Hill, West Malling, won the top prize in the 2007 Shepherd Neame Pub Awards, organised annually to recognise and reward excellence in innkeeping.

As well as the prestigious overall Shepherd Neame Pub of the Year title, Brendan was presented with a cheque for £1,000 and a luxury hotel break in Dorset at an awards ceremony held at the brewery in February.

Pub of the Year (sponsor Shepherd Neame): Brendan McBride, The Spitfire, West Malling

Kay Moon, of the Blue Anchor, Crowborough, was also in celebratory mood after winning two awards, Best Cellar and Welcome Award, for which her staff were praised for their service in a pub for which “nothing was too much trouble”.

Master of Beer (sponsor Spitfire): Jonathan Neame with Dawn and John Buckingham, The Bull, St Leonards

Pub Restaurant (sponsor JC Rook & Sons): Bill and Jacqueline Tipples, The King William IV, Benenden

Best Cellar (sponsor Chris Parr, from BOC) and Welcome (sponsor Boonaburra): Kay Moon, Blue Anchor, Crowborough

Pub Food (sponsor KFF): Trevor and Tina Jobson, The Old House at Home, Dormansland

Manager (sponsor Coca Cola): Bruno Mahsoudi, The Spanish Galleon, Greenwich

Small Garden (sponsor Sprint): Jeff Lenham and Michelle Holmes, of the Deal Hoy, Deal

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Sarah and Jeff Pemble from the Pepper Box Ulcombe won a Lifetime Achievement Award and will enjoy a short break in Barcelona. The pub has been in Sarah’s family for 50 years and she celebrates 20 years in the business this year.

Philip, Stephen and Gabrielle Harris won an Outstanding Achievement Award for their efforts in developing first class restaurants at The Sportsman, Seasalter and The Granville, Lower Hardres – their prize is dinner for four at London’s famous Ivy restaurant. The family were praised by judges for their Lifetime Achievement (sponsor Oranjeboom): Sarah Pemble, Pepper Box, Ulcombe, with director George Barnes

Most Improved Pub (sponsor Strongbow): Lesley Lewis and David Hughes-Jones, Alexandra Hotel, Chatham

Wine Pub (sponsor Pére Patriarche): Mark and Ellie Copestake, The White Hart, Canterbury

Best Garden (sponsor Magners): Mike and Sue Chappell, Horse and Groom, Rushlake Green

Community Pub (sponsor Guinness): Bob Westcott of The Royal, Tankerton

Outstanding Achievement (sponsor Asahi): Jonathan Neame with Steve, Gabrielle and Phil Harris, The Sportsman, Seasalter and The Granville, Lower Hardres

Training Pub (sponsor Arrochar Associates): Glynis and David Feasey, The Marine, Tankerton

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tireless pursuit of perfection.

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Pub refurbishments First class to Victoria

The Prince of Wales in Herne Bay, restored to its Victorian heyday by the brewery last year, has won the Refurbishment Award in the CAMRA Pub Design Awards.

Architect Ben White and licensee Graham Dash collected the award at a CAMRA presentation lunch in Yorkshire on 22 March.

The Prince of Wales was also joint winner of the Joe Goodwin Award for Best Street Corner Local.

Judges praised the £40,000 refurbishment for bringing back an authentic Victorian feel to the threestorey former hotel, which became a Shepherd Neame pub in 1879.

Tenants Steve and Sam Reynolds managed to keep the pub open throughout refurbishment work.

The Rose, Rainham The Rose Inn, in Rainham High Street, has re-opened following a £41,000 refurbishment.

The downstairs kitchen was converted into a non-smoking restaurant area, while a new kitchen has been installed upstairs.

Outside, a heated covered verandah will be decorated with plants.

A ramp has been provided to assist disabled guests, and toilet facilities for the disabled have been installed.

The Alma, Strood The Alma, formerly The Cricketers, Strood, has re-opened following a £55,000 refurbishment.

Originally built in 1883, the pub’s interior and exterior have been redecorated with new furniture and fittings inside. The public bar has a new bar counter, back bar and hardwearing slate floor and the saloon bar now boasts comfortable seating areas around fireplaces and four ‘booth’ tables, which are particularly suited to family dining. Disabled facilities have been incorporated throughout.

Behind the scenes, a formerly

Rose and Crown, Hadlow A £40,000 refurbishment at The Rose & Crown, Hadlow, has opened up an old bar to create more comfort and space for customers.

The whole bar area has been redecorated, with new furniture and pictures and a wood burner has been installed to create an attractive centrepiece The pub also benefits from new toilets, including facilities for the disabled, and in the pub’s previously unused back yard, a stylish canopy now provides a covered outdoor area for smokers.

The new courtyard garden also incorporates heating, lighting and a perimeter drinks shelf.

disused cellar has been brought back into use as a beer cellar and a kitchen has been created, allowing for bar food to be served throughout the pub with further plans to expand the menu later this year.

The Peacock, Goudhurst The Peacock, Goudhurst has had a £55,000 refurbishment to install a new outdoor heated smoking area with pergola and extended patio, in readiness for July’s smoking ban, and a transformed bar which marries the original 15th-century building, with a more recent addition in the 1960s.

Says licensee Gary Poole: “The brewery used reclaimed oak beams to create dividers in the modern part of the bar, giving it a more traditional feel and complementing the original building. The finished result has been a hit with the customers.”

Disabled toilet facilities have been added and the exterior of the pub has been redecorated with new signs and lighting.

A traditional country pub, popular with both locals and tourists, the Peacock serves food at lunchtimes and evenings on weekdays, all day Saturday and Sunday lunchtime.

and acquisitions The Aviator, Queenborough Formerly the Lady Hamilton The brewery is to spend £325,000 refurbishing a recently purchased pub on the Isle of Sheppey and will re-open it as The Aviator in tribute to the area’s unique place in the history of flying.

The pub will close for approximately six weeks while work takes place to create separate pub and restaurant areas and introduce a raft of major improvements designed with sustainability in mind.

The pub’s interior decor will

feature artefacts relating to Sheppey’s role in the early days of powered flight.

The Harrow, St Leonards The Harrow is situated on the ridge overlooking St Leonards and Hastings.

This well-located pub is used by the local community as well as visitors to the local hospital and business park and serves food all day. The pub will have a major refurbishment and new tenant Eileen Fowlie (formerly of the Anchor, Hastings) will develop the menu to include locally sourced food and homecooked dishes.

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Phil Vickery’s the Toast of Roast TV chef Phil Vickery held a roast dinner masterclass for Shepherd Neame chefs and restaurant managers, showing how to make the very best of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

Fifteen chefs from the managed pub estate attended the masterclass at The Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford.

Phil demonstrated his techniques for roasting beef, gammon and turkey and pairing them with seasonal vegetables from nearby farms.

Bruno Mahsoudi, who runs the Spanish Galleon, in Greenwich, which caters for up to 300 covers on a Sunday lunchtime, said: “I deeply enjoyed listening to Phil because he is so passionate about food. He has a way of making basic ingredients very special.

“He has taken the time to pass on the benefit of years of experience and technical knowledge, showing that something as simple as a chicken, cooked very well, can be juicier and better.”

The chefs discovered how to cook a four-rib of beef with a salt crust, prepare a shoulder of lamb, create tasty chutneys and compare potatoes roasted with goose fat and lard.

Ian Robinson, head chef at the Conningbrook, said: “I really enjoyed the day. It was good to pick up different ways of doing things and putting a new twist on some familiar ingredients.”

A further masterclass is planned for this spring. ■

World Darts players base themselves at Royal Hotel, Sheerness

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(Left to Right) Tony Fleet (Australia), landlord Dave Ingram, Warren French (New Zealand), Mitchell Clegg (Australia) and Kevin Berlyn (Australian darts promoter)

Some of the world’s finest darts players based themselves at the Royal Hotel, Sheerness as they took part in the Ladbrokes World Championship at The Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex.

A contingent of players and supporters from Australia and New Zealand made the pub in Broadway, Sheerness, their base for the duration of the tournament, and enjoyed the festive period with their host, landlord Dave Ingram, and his family.

The players from Down Under included Australian prodigy Mitchell Clegg, who at 16, was the youngest darts player ever to be invited to take part in the tournament, fellow-Australian Tony Fleet, and New Zealander Warren French.

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What’s in a name?

The pub sign dates back to Roman times, when innkeepers were obliged to hang a small bush outside their premises to show people that beer and wine were for sale inside.

Following the Norman Conquest, many pubs displayed the heraldic arms of their new masters and during the Crusades names such as Richard the Lion Heart and The Saracens Head became popular.

The Reformation led to many tavern owners hanging up a picture of the monarch to show their loyalty to the crown and historical events – both national and local – have inspired a plethora of weird and wonderful pub names over the centuries.

For anybody who has ever been intrigued by the history behind their local pub’s name, then a new book could provide the answer.

In Kentish Innsignia, Shepherd Neame, in association with Whitstable author Nick Evans, explores some of the county’s most bizarre pub names, alongside traditional houses, such as the Rose & Crown and the Queen’s Head.

More than 80 pubs from across Kent are featured, accompanied by pictures of the signs and the story behind their name.

The book, which costs £5, is available at the brewery Visitor Centre gift shop and from www.shepherdneame.co.uk Old Doctor Butlers Head, Moorgate Doctor Butler specialised in nervous disorders and his “miracle cures” included dropping clients into the Thames through a trapdoor on London Bridge and firing pistols by the heads of epileptics to scare the condition out of them. Appointed court physician to James I, he developed a medicinal ale for gastric ailments, sold only from pubs displaying Dr Butler’s head on their signs – and this is the last to bear his name.

The Cock Horse, Hildenborough The cock horse lived in a stable at the back of the premises and was the beast that would be attached to a team of horses hauling a stagecoach up the hill outside the pub. Coaches journeying to Sevenoaks needed assistance on the way up while those going downhill towards Tonbridge needed the cock horse on the back of the coach to stop it running away.

The pub was built in 1502 during the reign of Henry VII.

Nailbox, Shorncliffe nr Hythe Originally built as the Railway Hotel in 1887, the pub was unofficially known as the Nailbox for many years because of a nearby woodworking shop. The employees there said they were going “to fetch something from the nailbox” as a euphemism for nipping out for a swift glass of beer. Recognition of the nickname came in 1971 when the pub was renamed.

The Nore, Sheerness Built in the early 1930s, this pub was named after the Nore sandbank at the mouth of the Thames, just off Sheerness, which provided deep anchorage for the Royal Navy in Napoleonic times. In May 1797, sailors stationed here mutinied to win better conditions. From 1793 Trinity House sited a succession of lightships on the bank, similar to the ones depicted on the pub sign. They were replaced in 1929 by a marker buoy.

Divers Arms, Herne Bay A plaque outside states the Divers Arms was built

by William Henry Wood, one of the world’s first salvage divers, in 1847.

During the 1830s he was caught and sentenced to eight years penal naval service for smuggling. When he returned home he joined a diving company and with the proceeds of various salvage operations, he later built the Divers Arms on a piece of ground he had been using to store all his equipment. From the pub’s cellar he made an opening into the nearby Plenty Brook – could he have returned to his smuggling ways later in life?

Flying high with Spitfire Squadron Leader Alexander ‘Sandy’ Gordon fulfilled his lifelong ambition to fly a Spitfire this January at RAF Waddington in Lincoln.

Squadron Leader Gordon has flown Douglas F-4 Phantom and Panavia Tornado F3 aircraft during his long service with the RAF but always dreamed of flying the legendary Spitfire.

He was recently diagnosed with a life threatening illness, and his RAF friends arranged for him to perform the memorable flight.

Shepherd Neame provided Spitfire ale for family and friends who watched the event. ■

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Photograph ©Tim Gander, Port Lympne

Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

Fancy trekking outdoors among lions, tigers and gorillas?

Then why not join in with this year’s Kent Charity Walk, based at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park at Lympne near Hythe.

This is the 12th annual Kent Charity Walk, sponsored and organised by Shepherd Neame and the Kent Messenger Group.

The 10-mile walk takes place on Sunday 20 May, starting at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.The route follows the Saxon Shore Way, taking walkers past the Roman remains of Stutfall Castle and descending along the Royal Military Canal. At Aldegate Bridge walkers will turn away from the canal, moving towards Burmarsh where there is a refreshment stop.

The route leads walkers through fields with pleasant views of the countryside, looping back along Chapel Lane and the remains of a ruined church before leading back to the Royal Military Canal and back into the zoo grounds.

Walkers can choose their route back through the park where they can see the world’s largest family gorilla house, a captive breeding herd of black rhino, snow leopards, wolves, red pandas, tigers, rare Barbary lions, hunting dogs and many more wonderful animals at risk in the wild.

This year’s entry fee is £8 for adults and £16 for a family (two adults and two children) and includes entrance to the zoo. Each walker is given a passport which is stamped at stations en route and exchanged for a certificate and drink voucher at the finish.

The 2007 Kent Charity Walk will raise money for 10 hospices. They are: Demelza House Children’s Hospice, Sittingbourne; Heart of Kent Hospice, Aylesford; Lions Hospice, Northfleet; Pilgrims Hospices in Canterbury, Ashford and Margate; Ellenor Foundation, Dartford; Hospice in the Weald, Pembury; Rochester’s Wisdom Hospice and St Christopher’s Hospice in Bromley. The walk has raised a total of £680,000 for Kent hospices over 11 years.

For more details and an entry form, log on to www.shepherdneame.co.uk or contact Louise Hopkins at the brewery. ■

Richard is Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year Richard Smith, a reporter at BBC South East, was named Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year at the 19th Kent Journalist of the Year Awards sponsored by the brewery.

This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries and were judged by a panel comprising former BBC Radio Kent broadcaster Barbara Sturgeon; Kim Fletcher, former editorial director of the Telegraph Group and chairman of the NCTJ; Andy Bull, who has worked for Times online, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday and AOL UK; David Sapsted, South East Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph; and Justin Allen, from the sports desk of The Sun and the News of the World.

A former judge, veteran broadcaster Bob Holness, accompanied by his wife Mary, was a special guest and Shepherd Neame president Robert Neame paid tribute

to Lord Deedes, who was not able to attend, for his involvement in establishing the awards’ “unrivalled reputation”.

Jonathan Neame said: “The Kent Journalist of the Year Awards have been established over 19 years and have become an important part of Kent’s media calendar. Like our pubs, newspapers and broadcasters make a valuable contribution to the community and we are proud to recognise their hard work.” ■

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Smith, also winner of the Bishops Finger Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award, was described by judges as “a first-rate journalist who goes that extra mile” and praised for his work showing the heart-breaking realities of prostitution in the region.

This year’s awards contained two new categories, the Master Brew Kent Feature Journalist of the Year Award, won by Sarah Sturt of Kent Life, and the News Service of the Year Award, won by the Gravesend Messenger.

Jenna Pudelek of the Kent and Sussex Courier, was Shepherd Neame Kent Young Journalist of the Year; Shepherd Neame Campaign of the Year was won by David Glencorse, of ITV Meridian, and another Meridian reporter, Iain McBride, won the Spitfire Kent Sports Journalist of the Year Award. The Kent’s Best Newspaper/Online Journalist of the Year was Helen Wagstaff, from the Gravesend Messenger.

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Miles Templeman In the Chair

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M

iles Templeman reflects on his first 18 months as chairman of Shepherd Neame and considers the challenges facing the brewery in the coming months and years.

“

Being chairman

Becoming chairman of Shepherd Neame was something I’d hoped to have the opportunity to do when I joined the board. When Bobby handed over the reins, I was proud and honoured to follow him and to take the position in a company that I have respected for many years. I’ve found the role highly enjoyable and stimulating.

This is a close-knit company with strong family connections and clearly I have come from outside.

However, I have been on the board for a few years and now know everyone well. The board and staff have been extremely welcoming.

Bobby Neame is a very well-respected industry figure, and I’m delighted we were able to give him a fitting celebration of his 50 years as a director of the company and recognise his new role as company president.

As chief executive, Jonathan has now taken on many of Bobby’s previous roles, leaving me to fulfil more of a ‘standard’ chairman’s role. We have found a good balance enabling me to fulfil my duties at Shepherd Neame while continuing my role as director general of the Institute of Directors.

Position in the market

Our challenges We have three main challenges for the future. The first is our continuing effort to improve our retail offering in both the managed and tenanted estate.

”

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The company is progressing into a new era, with Jonathan spearheading the company’s future, supported by a team, including myself and the other directors. For my part, I have a lot of experience of the beer and pub industry, so can bring a perspective from my past and present experiences in the industry along with UK-wide experience from my IOD responsibilities.

Indeed, the UK economy is generally healthy, although there is a little uncertainty. The economic growth rate may decrease and the tax burden remains high, as do utility costs, so there is considerable pressure on the consumer and on the economy in general. We want to achieve sustained and resilient growth. The company has grown successfully for 31 years and we hope it will continue to do so regardless of difficult economic conditions.

We must compete effectively in the local pub market and exploit the individuality in our pubs. We must look to continue our strong community relations and our unrivalled reputation, established through our excellent staff and customer service and the quality of our outlets. Following some high profile acquisitions of late, we are focused on achieving the potential of our recent investments.

Our second major drive is to sustain and develop our branded beer business. The beer market is tough, but we know we have quality products with which to compete. We have a strong portfolio, recently bolstered by Asahi. Our distribution network is first-class but we must continue to develop our sales and service operation to remain competitive. Our take-home and national sales are extremely important parts of the business, but strong sales of our own beers through the Shepherd Neame pub estate and free-trade accounts remains imperative.

The third challenge is the implementation of the new Enterprise IT System, a huge undertaking.

We are at a critical stage in terms of developing, analysing how we run the business; working out the most efficient way of running the business in the future and then bringing the new software into play.

Effective training will be central to the successful implementation of the new system.

Shepherd Neame has an enviable position in the market and it has evolved into the master of the community pub. Everything about our reputation in Kent, and the surrounding counties, gives the consumer confidence in our ability to run their local pub. We are always wary of complacency, but if you think about the big pub companies, they cannot rival the relationship we’ve built up with Kent.

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Celebrating Beer Shepherd Neame continued its support to the British Guild of Beer Writers annual awards by sponsoring two categories.

2006 was the 19th year of the Guild Dinner which has become a key date in the journalistic calendar. Over 170 journalists, brewers and pub operators attended the dinner at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in South Kensington in December.

Production and distribution director Ian Dixon joined the judging panel for the awards, which is the industry equivalent of the Oscars.

Entrants compete over six categories which seek to find the very best of beer writing and journalism and crown an overall Beer Writer of the Year.

Shepherd Neame sponsored the Bishops Finger Award for Beer and Food Writing, which was awarded to Richard Fox, broadcaster and author of The Food & Beer Cook Book.

The Whitstable Bay Organic Brewed Sustainability Writing Award was awarded to Dominic Roskrow, launch editor of Beers of the World magazine. Entrants were encouraged to submit articles that promote beer as a healthy, natural product using sustainable raw ingredients and brewing processes.

Presenting the awards at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel was celebrity chef Brian Turner who also created a mouth-watering menu matched with regional ales, including crab and bacon cakes with celeriac and oyster fritter served with Whitstable Bay Organic Ale. ■

CASK CONDITION The brewery is investing in a £900,000 cask packaging plant at the Faversham brewery which will be ready for use by the summer.

This will enable our production staff to centralise cask packaging to one location, the former keg plant at the middle of the town centre site.

The cask development will increase efficiency and allow for increased productivity. Automated cask handling will reduce noise, improve the safety and well-being of staff and maintain cleanliness.

A new, smoother filling mechanism will provide increased flavour stability.

The interior will have a high quality modern and hygienic finish, creating a clean and attractive working environment.

Production and distribution director Ian Dixon said: “By increasing our efficiency, we are helping to minimise our impact on the environment. This latest phase of development underlines Shepherd Neame’s reputation as a producer of first-rate cask beer.”

(Left to right): Brian Turner, Richard Fox and Ian Dixon

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B

rewery tours

Buoyed by last year’s refurbishment and a new-look brewery tour, the Visitor Centre team are hoping to greet up to 20,000 visitors this year.

followed by a fun-filled four-course dinner, with beers matched to locally-sourced ingredients, tutored tasting with experts and a light-hearted “beer quiz”.

A number of tours are themed or coincide with special events such as the Flavours of Faversham food and drink festival, featuring a Father’s Day tour and lunch in June, the Faversham Hop Festival in September, and Brewery Ghost Tours around Hallowe’en. ■

The two-hour visit takes visitors through the heart of the working brewery, telling the story of how beer is made, from barley to bottle and hop to hand-pump.

There’s a chance to taste natural mineral water from the artesian well, try some malted barley, savour Kent hops, visit the modern Millennium Brewhouse with its magnificent stained glass windows, see vintage delivery vehicles and step into a recreated cooper’s workshop.

Each tour ends with a tutored tasting session, in which visitors can sample our range of Kentish ales and major international lagers brewed on licence.

New for 2007 are beer and food evenings in which a guided tour is

Beer matching with a difference!

The brewery has been granted a licence to hold wedding ceremonies and wedding co-ordinator Karen Baker is starting to take bookings on 01795 542285 or mobile number 07809 781436.

Couples looking for a unique venue to tie the knot can marry in the brewhouse or the newly-refurbished visitor centre, and hold their reception at the brewery too.

The bride and groom can arrive or leave in a Shepherd Neame brewer’s horse drawn carriage, have photos in the Brewer’s Garden, and be showered with hops instead of confetti.

Menus will feature the finest locally-sourced food matched to our range of award-winning ales and wines. There is also the option to offer guests a tour of the brewery between ceremony and reception.

Guests can drink a toast of bespoke celebration ale, brewed specially for the occasion, with a label featuring the date and the names of the happy couple.

Extra bottles can be provided as gifts for friends and relatives who can’t make it to the ceremony and as a treasured keepsake.

As well as weddings, the brewery is also welcoming civil partnerships, baby-naming ceremonies and vow renewals.

“I give you this brew as a sign of our love, to savour and sup, from this day forward, for bitter, for wort, for pitcher, for Porter, in lager and in ales, to love and to cherish till last orders do us part.”

Look out for the following new products:

Ale Lover’s Hamper – ideal for Father’s Day! Luxury hamper packed with bottles of Bishops Finger, Spitfire and Master Brew, as well as Bishops Finger marmalade, Spitfire mustard, locallyproduced beer fudge, a Spitfire bar towel, book, pen, a Bishops Finger pint glass and a bottle opener. £36.95

Bishops Finger Selection A real treat for Bishops Finger fans – this hamper is crammed with bottles of the strong, Kentish ale, together with Bishops Finger chutney, soap and shampoo. Of course, there’s a Bishops Finger pint glass and bottle opener too! £24.95

Polo Shirts – Bishops Finger (black), Spitfire (red), Master Brew (green) and Shepherd Neame (white).

Choose your favourite beer – and wear the T-shirt! £22.50

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Master Brewer has suggested an alternative set of wedding vows, perhaps more apposite to the nuptials of a dedicated beer-drinker:

The Shepherd Neame gift shop offers a wide range of beer and hop related gifts. Located in Court Street, Faversham, the shop is open 10.00am – 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, or shop online at www.shepherdneame.co.uk

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NEW SALES TEAM To meet the growing demands on the department, the sales team has welcomed four new members, including take-home account manager Deighton Ridge and regional account managers Alex Sheen, Steve Bridgett and Duncan Crosbie.

Explaining the philosophy behind the restructuring, sales and marketing director Graeme Craig said: “We have an excellent account base in the south east, but we have national brands, both in terms of distribution and recognition.

“In this business, it is the people that make things happen, so as well as adding new members to the sales team, I’ve organised the entire department so that we can meet customers’ needs both on an account-specific and geographical basis. This gives us nationwide coverage, but ensures we remain focused on our existing customers.”

Clockwise from top: Alex Sheen, Steve Bridgett and Duncan Crosbie

T

he free-trade team are celebrating new account wins across the south east

The sponsorship of the Sussex Golf Union, now in its second year, is reaping rewards.

With 70 clubs in the Union, three new outlets are now serving Shepherd Neame’s lagers and cask ales. West Chiltington Golf Club in West Sussex has installed draught lagers Oranjeboom and Asahi and ales including Master Brew and Spitfire.

The prestigious Royal Ashdown Forest golf club, near East Grinstead, is serving Hurlimann, Oranjeboom, Kents Best and

Master Brew alongside Shepherd Neame’s seasonal ales. We have supported the installation by providing new bar and cellar cooling equipment.

Wealden Hall Restaurant in Larkfield, Kent is now offering a broad choice of ales, including Spitfire, Bishops Finger, Master Brew and a seasonal ale, plus draught lagers, Asahi, Oranjeboom and Holsten Export.

Shepherd Neame has installed new fonts and lines at the restaurant and is also

supplying an extensive selection of wines.

Surrey Downs golf club is situated in the picturesque Chipstead Valley. Its restaurant and bar are popular for weddings and functions alike and are now serving Kents Best, Spitfire and Bishops Finger cask ales alongside Asahi, Oranjeboom and Hurlimann. Shepherd Neame has supplied the club with outside heaters in preparation for the smoking ban and prizes for the upcoming Captain’s Charity Day. ■

Pump Clips get new look Following the exciting redesign of Spitfire and Bishops Finger pump clips, the new look is being rolled out across the draught beer portfolio.

The next brand to benefit from the new style will be Master Brew and a Whitstable Bay clip is already waiting in the wings for when the ale goes on sale in the summer.

The co-ordinated look comprises bright colours, striking designs and attractively bevelled gold-trimmed edges, with the clip strategically angled towards the customer’s eye-line.

Kentish Ale Collection in Sainsbury’s The Kentish Ale Collection, a boxed pack of four of Shepherd Neame’s most distinctive beers, has been well-received by customers at Waitrose and Asda supermarkets and is now on sale in branches of Sainsbury’s.

The collection showcases 500ml bottles of Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale, Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale, Master Brew Kentish Ale and Whitstable Bay Organic Ale and has an RRP of £5.99. Asda meanwhile have added 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale and Whitstable Bay Organic Ale to their shelves.

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The

Ultimate Spitfire Experience

Our Spitfire marketing team has teamed up with the Imperial War Museum Duxford, and the Historic Aircraft Collection to give Spitfire fans the chance to win The Ultimate Spitfire Experience – including a once-in-alifetime pilot training day with a top Spitfire pilot. The winner of this unique prize will: “Adopt” a Spitfire for a year Enjoy a Spitfire pilot training day with one of the world’s top Spitfire pilots Take a flight in the Historic Aircraft Collection’s training aircraft Watch, with a guest, the Spitfire display at all Duxford air shows from the comfort of VIP hospitality Tour the Imperial War Museum Duxford and Historic Aircraft Collection’s workshops and facilities Meet the pilots and engineers involved with maintaining the aircraft Take away Spitfire mementoes and a special certificate commemorating their win.

Two second prizes offer flight training days, while two third prize winners will receive VIP hospitality packages at Duxford airshows. There is also a year’s supply of Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale to be won.

The competition is run through the Spitfire website. All entrants have to do is visit www.spitfireale.co.uk/experience and register their details.

STOP PRESS

The latest addition to the Spitfire squadron of goodies is a new bottle opener, which produces the iconic scream of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine as the bottle is opened!

Land your very own at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/shop.

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The Ultimate Spitfire Experience is being promoted on beer mats and posters in more than 1,000 pubs and clubs nationwide and through bottle collarettes in 5,000 off trade outlets, including major supermarkets and off licences. ■

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Master stroke for Kent cricket

T

he brewery hopes to increase the national profile of Master Brew as Kent’s county cricketers step out wearing Master Brew on their shirts during this season’s County Championship.

Fern and team take on India.

Great Britton This Morning presenter Fern Britton has completed a gruelling cycle ride across India – with a dose of Spitfire spirit.

The television presenter and her team were supported by the premium Kentish ale as they took on the Cycle India Challenge as part of the ITV1 programme’s Challenge of Your Life campaign.

Sporting Spitfire Ale T-shirts, the trio rode nearly 250 miles across rural Rajasthan in just five days. Along the way they faced punctures and raw sewage in the road and stayed in accommodation ranging from campsites to an Indian palace.

Fern and her travelling companions, Jill Lucus from the Isle of Man and Susie Stubley from Berkshire, were joined by 100 other women taking part in the charity ride. They raised money for Professor Robert Winston’s Women for Women Appeal, which funds research into improving the health of women and babies.

Kent’s one-day side, the Spitfires, will continue to wear their distinctive Spitfire shirts but for all other games, the team will take the field in Master Brew livery.

The team will be competing in Division One of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship and this taste of the Kent heartland will be seen all over the country from Hampshire in the south to Durham in the north.

Our tasting experts have described Master Brew as “wonderfully aggressive, tinged with sweetness”, which pretty well sums up the assets of a good batsman!

Shane McGuigan receives his award from Jonathan Neame.

Sport Holsten scores double top Holsten Export is the main sponsor for a pub darts competition being held among our managed and tenanted houses and freetrade customers, in partnership with World of Darts.

The knockout stages are being contested between onathan Neame presented an nearly 90 outlets from achievement award to Shane January to March with McGuigan who is a successful pub darts teams divided member of Aylesham Boxing Club into geographical near Canterbury last September. groups, with each team Shane is the son of boxing legend playing the others twice Barry McGuigan, who was happy to sign in home and away legs. autographs for fans.

During April, pubs The brewery has contributed will be invited to host towards rebuilding work at Aylesham exhibition evenings with Barry McGuigan gives fans a warm welcome.

Working Men’s Club, which has enabled professional darts community groups such as the boxing club players, before the tournament ends in a grand final to continue their activities in smart new surroundings. in May.

J

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Published on behalf of Shepherd Neame by Edwards Harvey, The Mill House, Hollingworth Court, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5PP Designed by Breeze Artwork 01634 235145 Printed on 80% recycled stock that has been awarded the NAPM and Eugropa recycled certificates

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M A S T E R

BREWER Spring 2007