Master Brewer - Spring 2014

Master

Spring 2014www.shepherdneame.co.uk

BREWER

These are exciting times in the world of beer.Consumer tastes are changing and the way they are interacting with each other has beenrevolutionised thanks to social media. There aremany clichés which spring to mind: the globalvillage and citizen journalist to name but two.

One thing is for certain, people are increasinglykeen to try something new and then share theirexperiences. You will read in this issue how thebrewery’s reaping the rewards of its expandedrange of beers, including both under licenseproducts like Sam Adams and new own brandssuch as the Whitstable Bay collection which wasintroduced in the last issue. The breadth of newbusiness these beers have secured for the breweryis extremely heartening, including some of thecoolest and most prestigious venues across thelength and breadth of the UK.

We have completed a variety of refurbishments in our pub estate, including some very impressivematched investments with tenants with a veryclear ambition for their business. Meanwhile,improvements to our accommodation continue,with the full refurbishment of the newly namedBotany Bay Hotel (acquired as the Fayreness Hotelin September 2011). The hotel opens this Easteroffering a high quality experience that befits itsstunning coastal location.

Jonathan NeameChief Executive@jbneame

UNRIVALLEDEXPERIENCES

2

Environment Secretary Owen Patersonofficially opened a water recovery plant at Shepherd Neame’s Faversham brewery in November.

The new development cost in excess of£3million. It recycles the waste water resulting from brewing and cleaning, which was previously sent to the drain. The new technology will help the breweryreduce its level of water consumption byapproximately 40 per cent.

Chalk-filtered mineral water from theartesian well deep beneath the brewery will now only be used for brewing and the newly recovered water will be used for cleaning.

Before unveiling a plaque to mark theopening, Mr Paterson said: “It is great tosee a traditional brewery use cutting edgetechnology to reduce its water footprint.This new plant will not only improve theenvironment but help grow the ruraleconomy. It is an excellent example ofinnovation and I hope others are inspired to follow their lead."

The plant has taken one year to build.Speaking after the unveiling, chief executiveJonathan Neame said: “This is a considerableinvestment for the company and the plantprovides a long term solution for our brewery’swaste water. Excellent quality water is thelifeblood of any brewery and we’re delightedthis facility will reduce our load on localinfrastructure and improve our sustainability.”

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY UNVEILS£3 MILLION WATER RECOVERY PLANT

3

Company President Robert Neame CBE DL turned 80 this February and celebrated instyle at the Old Brewery Store with family and friends.

Bobby, as he’s affectionately known in the industry, joined Shepherd Neame in 1956and became company chairman in 1971, a role he performed until 2005, when hebecame the company’s first President.

Happy Birthday, Mr President!

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson toasts the new development

4

SOHO PUB ACQUISITION

Matched investment projects with the brewery’s tenants are leading to thecreation of pubs with a very distinct offer to customers. Improvements have been made to two pubs with significant potential.

Shoreditch pub, the Prince Arthur, Brunswick Place has benefited from acomplete refurbishment. New licensee Euan Johnston and Shepherd Neamehave jointly invested £100,000 to modernise the pub, while maintaining theeclectic look and feel of a country pub.

Upstairs living accommodation has been transformed into a function roomaccommodating up to 20 people.

Licensee Euan Johnston, great great grandsonof the first Neame to own the brewery, said:

“I knew the pub well and when I heard that the former tenant, Dixie Dean was leaving, I was keen totake it on. It’s an authentic real ale pub serving the local community and it’s this essence which I’ve triedto preserve by using reclaimed materials and furniture.”

Eynsford’s Castle Hotel has undergone from a £90,000 joint refurbishment between the brewery andnew licensees Sharon and Gordon Thompson.

Sharon has designed and project-managed the refurbishment. She said: “We chose the hotel as it issituated in the lovely Darent Valley and we saw the opportunity to create a successful, multi-facetedhospitality business with Shepherd Neame, set in beautiful surroundings.”

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LICENSEES

Shepherd Neame has acquired the lease of The George publichouse, in D’Arblay Street, Soho. This brings the number of London pubs owned by the brewery to 34. After an extensiverefurbishment of this historic four-storey property, it is nowoperating as part of the brewery’s managed estate.

Situated in a prime location at the corner of Wardour Street, The George is a short walk from Oxford Circus and TottenhamCourt Road Underground stations.

This traditional Soho local caters for tourists and regulars alike and the addition of a new kitchen means that it is now servinggood-quality pub food.

Shepherd Neame retail director NigelBunting said: “The George occupies a prime position in a busy tourist andcommercial area and this acquisition furtherenhances our portfolio of London pubs.

“We hope that customers enjoy its new lookand the great food now on offer.”

The Eleanor Arms in Bow has been votedLondon Pub of the Year 2014 by the Societyfor the Preservation of Beers from the Wood

Prince Arthur, Shoreditch

The Castle, Eynsford

Prime location: The George, Soho

5

A luxurious new look has been unveiled at The Bell Hotel in Sandwich.

The historic 37-bedroom establishment, in the heart of the Cinque Port town, has enjoyed a £380,000 makeoverto its public areas.

Feature lighting and mirrors have been used to create amore intimate environment in the refurbished Old DiningRoom, where customers can enjoy a delicious a la cartemenu using the finest Kentish produce.

As the weather improves, customers can enjoy eating alfresco, perhaps with a chilled glass of something specialchosen from the extensive wine list, in the hotel’s newexternal dining terrace with feature ‘living room’ lamps.

And if you have a special occasion comingup, why not consider using the newly refurbished first floor function suite. With its delightful Musician's Gallery, sparkling chandeliers and high ceilings, the late Georgian Regency Room is a wonderful venue, able to cater for up to 120 people. Alternatively, The Bell's Club

Room, with its private bar andmeeting area, is perfect for small meetings and gatherings. Relaxed, elegant and comfortable,the Club Room has just undergonea comprehensive refurbishment.

In keeping with its enviable position overlooking the River Stour, the hotel’s warm, welcoming bar area now boasts décor inspired by the water,including a driftwood bar surface and nauticalpictures and artefacts.

For a more informal dining experience try thebrasserie menu, or if you just want to sit back and relax with a hot drink and tasty treat, a separate coffee counter with pastry table has also been introduced.

Whether you fancy a drink or a quick bite withfriends, or you plan to linger over dinner withsomeone special, The Bell provides the ideal setting to enjoy it to the full.

RINGING IN THE CHANGES AT THE BELL HOTEL

Subtle tartans and natural wood make for comfortable surroundings

The new look bar area

Dining at The Bell Hotel

6

Reigate pub the Prince of Wales, HolmesdaleRoad has reopened after a £120,000refurbishment inspired by the pub’s railway history.

Named after a steam train and situated next to Reigate station, the pub dates back to the1850s and was formerly a railway buildingowned by British Rail.

The pub interior now features a stylish logburner to welcome weary travellers in from the cold and overhead luggage racks, historical photos and memorabilia.

Longstanding licensees Keith and Theresa Wild are thrilled with the new look.

Keith said: “It’s the best pub in the world,completely unrecognisable from before.”

REFURBI

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR REIGATE PUB

A charming pub situated at the heart of an historic village islooking better than ever.

The Rose and Crown at Wrotham has just reopened following a £90,000 facelift.

Previously one big open space, the rear dining area of theShepherd Neame pub has now been screened off to create acosier, more intimate atmosphere.

Exposed brickwork creates a more rustic feel, with other areas of the pub repainted in contemporary colours.

The exterior seating area has also enjoyed a revamp, along witha new pergola.

Property and tenanted trade director George Barnes said: “The Rose and Crown is at the heart of the village, so our aimwas to give it a contemporary look while retaining its uniquecharacter and atmosphere.”

HISTORIC VILLAGE PUB ENJOYS £90,000 FACELIFT

Relaxing in the rear lounge

Rose and Crown, Wrotham

Prince of Wales, Reigate

7

SHMENTS

Wine, coffee and cake all under one roof – sounds like the perfectcombination! Now Canterbury dwellers can enjoy just that at The Shakespeare Wine and Coffee House.

Hot on the heels of the re-launch of The Shakespeare, the adjoiningpub in Butchery Lane, this stunning wine bar has been incorporatedfrom a former gift shop on Burgate to the rear of the pub. This latestphase brings the total redevelopment investment to £180,000.

Two trained sommeliers, Leighton and Paul, will guide you throughalmost 100 wines on offer from Todd’s the Wine Company.

If you’re unsure what to choose why not try a ‘wine flight’, a nattychandelier-style taster tray housing three 50ml official ISO winetasting glasses. Formal tastings with a sommelier can also be booked.

Licensee Dan Sidders said: “It’s about making wine accessible foreveryone. None of the wines are more than £5 a glass and we’reencouraging people to try different styles.”

WINE OR COFFEE? THAT IS THE QUESTION!

The perfect cup of coffee is now on offer atyour favourite pub.

Whether you are looking to enjoy some timeout on your own or with friends, or need to grab a hot drink on the go, ShepherdNeame’s new Coffee & Ale House brand isthe perfect choice.

Our pubs are now serving delicious coffee,made from a freshly ground, unique blendof beans created for us by UK Fairtrade firmRoasted, to drink in or take away.

State-of-the-art bean-to-cup barista machinesare able to offer all your favourite types of

coffee, including espresso, cappuccino and latté.

They will also serve coffee in a cafetierethat includes a timer telling customers the perfect moment to ‘plunge’.

Greg Wallis, tenanted operation managerat Shepherd Neame, said: “Just as our pubs are great places to enjoy freshly-cooked food and great cask beer, thecombination of high quality coffee andwell-trained staff means there’s no reasonwhy they can’t also be the best place intown to enjoy a cup of coffee.”

The Shakespeare Wine and Coffee House

Wine flight sampling Sommelier Leighton Roberts

FANTASTIC NEW COFFEE EXPERIENCE

8

The Hop Pole is a traditional community local overlooking thebeautiful, Grade II listed Wandsworth Park in West London.

Famed for its first-class real ales and lagers, it has reopenedafter a £60,000 refurbishment.

Licensee Colm Lynch, who has been at the pub for 17 years,has built up a popular following for his real ale house. The pub serves award-winning beers as well as bothtraditional pub food and more exotic Thai dishes and screens major sporting events including GAA Gaelic games.

FIRST-CLASS PINT

NEW LOOK FOR ‘THE BRICKS’

A couple with experience working in the casino businesshave taken on Bexleyheath pub the Prince Albert on theBroadway. Husband and wife Barrie and Claire Houghtonreopened the pub after a £100,000 refurbishment.

The refurbishment included a complete interior andexterior redecoration and the creation of a new functionroom upstairs.

Now, the pub is serving up high-quality pub food as wellas offering private dining for large groups in a relaxedpub environment.

REFURBON THE CARDS

REFURBISHMENTS

Bromley pub the Bricklayers Arms, Masons Hill, has benefited from a £60,000 refurbishment.

A vibrant community local, known affectionately by regulars as ‘The Bricks’,the large split-level interior of this early 20th century building has beenredecorated in a palette of warm natural tones. The result is a contemporary,sophisticated feel.

Regular events at the pub include a music quiz, DJ nights and live musicevenings. Sports fans can enjoy Sky TV showing sporting events on fourlarge screens.

Hop Pole, Wandsworth

Prince Albert, Bexleyheath

Bricklayers Arms, Bromley

9

One of the oldest British ale brands, Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale has been redesigned with a new look that celebrates its Kentish heritage.

Using a classic design in harmony with the brewery’s other heritage brands, it maintains its ecclesiastical colour scheme and now features an image of the old bishops finger signpost.

First brewed in 1958, Bishops Finger takes its name from the Kentish nickname for an ancient finger-shaped signpost found only in Kent on the Pilgrims Way. It pointed the way to Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas A Becket, before it was destroyed as part of the dissolution of

the monastaries in the 16th century.

At 5.4% abv Bishops Finger is available in 500ml bottles nationwide in all major supermarkets and good independent retailers and available on cask.

NEW DIRECTION FOR BISHOPS FINGER

Spitfire Ale’s partnership with comedy duo Armstrong and Miller is going from strengthto strength online. The campaign’s adverts and behind-the-scenes videos have clockedup hundreds of thousands of YouTube views since going live last summer.

On other platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, social media posts reacting to newsitems and events have been shared across the world, helping to increase our reach toover 11 million fans.

CHECK ME ON SOCIAL MEEJA, BLUD

/spitfireale @spitfireale /spitfireale

10

The brewery’s established seasonal ale brands have undergone a complete re-design to give the packaging a more eye-catching,contemporary look. The new square pump clip features bold colours and artistic imagery which accentuates their seasonality.

The draught seasonal ale range includes:

BOLD RE-DESIGN FOR SEASONAL ALES

A new range of cask beers is available from The No.18 Yard Brewhouse – home to Shepherd Neame’s pilot brewery.

Previously the site of an historic cask store, the pilot brewery was installed in 2007 andhas gained a popular following with drinkersseeking diverse, bold and innovative beer.

Each beer is branded with an instantlyrecognisable sleek, contemporary pump clip.

The first in the series is Dragonfire (4.5%abv). Brewed especially for St Georges Day, is it a fearsome English ale which combinesbarley, oats, rye and wheat with two Englishhop varieties (Goldings and First Gold) and a fiery secret ingredient. It will be availableduring April and May.

Amber Ale

Brewed for the coldest monthsof the year

Available from January to March

Goldings

A refreshing summer ale with notesof freshly mown grass

Available from June to September

Early Bird Spring Hop Ale

Delivers fresh floral notessignalling the arrival of Spring

Available from March to June

Late Red Autumn Hop Ale

A hugely popular, triple-hopped ale

Available from September to December

INNOVATIONAT THENO.18 YARDBREWHOUSE

11

The newest additions to the brewery’s beer portfolio are helping to win accounts at some of the UK’s most prestigious pubs, bars,hotels and restaurants.

Beers such as Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Asahi and the WhitstableBay collection are helping the brewery get listings beyond the usualoutlets available to regional brewers. Head of free trade, Giles Hilton,explains: “Our customers are looking for a point of differenceon their bar. They want high quality products, with strongtechnical support behind the scenes. We’re supplyingvenues highly respected venues such as Bodean’s, Steamand Rye and the Boisdale Group on the strength ofbeing able to offer a wide variety of great beers.”

General manager for national on-trade, ChristianHamilton says the picture is echoed throughoutthe country: “We are experiencing success waybeyond our traditional South East heartland.Bristol and Cornwall, Manchester and Glasgoware all growth areas for us. Most recently Iheard we are available in 21 outlets with ten minutes of each other in Leeds – that’s 250 miles from the brewery!”

CONSUMERS DISCOVERINGOUR BEERS AT HOME AND...

SUSHISAMBA

Catcher in the RyeBuckinghamshire Golf Club

Cabot Place - The Boisdale Group

The Oast House, Manchester

Bodean's BBQ Restaurants

Steam and Rye

The launch of Spitfire in Canada and the USA last September has proved a huge hit, prompting plans to introduce the Classic Collection’s India Pale Ale in the North American market this year.

Shepherd Neame export manager Olly Scott said: “We have gone from zero to hero in the USA, where drinkers really seem to value the heritage of ourbrewery and quality of our beers.”

Another success story is Russia, which has seen an increase in sales following the introduction of a new export partner there last July.

Olly said: “Russia is a big market and as a result of our new exporter we aredoubling our expectations from last year’s sales, which is great news.”

He added: “We plan to keepexpanding into new marketsaround the world. The factthat we are Britain’s oldestbrewer is our unique sellingpoint. We are in the rightplace at the right time withthe right product.”

ENJOYING GLOBAL SUCCESS

... ACROSS THE WORLD

12

Politician turned broadcasterMichael Portillo stopped off atthe brewery while filming hislatest TV show.

The former Minister visited aspart of his latest Great BritishRailway Journeys documentaryseries for BBC2, in which hetravels the country by train, usingthe famous Victorian railwayguide Bradshaw’s Handbook.

Michael met historian and archivist John Owen to learn about Shepherd Neame’s past and discover how the introduction of the railway helped the brewery expand.

STARRING ROLE IN TV TRAVEL SHOW

Michael Portillo delivering beer in Faversham

USA SWEDEN

Serbia

Japan

RUSSIA