The Faversham Hop Festival Returns Next Week
Shepherd Neame Back as Principal Sponsor
(Text and images reproduced with kind permission of Angela Cole of Shepherd Neame who retains copyright)
Dancing in the Streets, Live Music and Beer
Shepherd Neame, is proud to once again be principal sponsor of the Faversham Hop Festival, which returns on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31.
The town, home to its historic brewery, will come alive with music across five stages and in Shepherd Neame’s nine pubs as well as other venues throughout the town, along with a huge range of entertainment and activities for visitors to enjoy.
The main Brewery Stage in Court Street will see acts perform for the crowds from 10.45am on the Saturday and 10am on the Sunday and there will be dancing in the streets as there are parades of dancing and historic vehicles both days.
Nature's Symphony
Faces of Humanity
Sands of Time
Shepherd Neame Chief Executive Jonathan Neame will be part of the official opening ceremony at the Market Place Stage on Saturday morning, in his role as the High Sheriff of Kent.
Shepherd Neame also has a host of hop-related offerings to top off the festivities, including the chance to win free beer for a year and its popular brewery tours.
It has teamed up again with Herne Bay artist Peter Gander to create a special Hop Spots map to help festivalgoers navigate the many venues and line-ups over the weekend, which will be available at the brewer’s pubs and at its Visitor Centre in Court Street, showing the music stages, venues, and pubs are across the town when more than 70 bands will be performing.
A number of the brewer’s historic vehicles will feature in the morning parades through the town which traditionally open each day of the festival, organised by not-for-profit company Community Heritage Events Ltd., on behalf of Swale Borough Council.
The popular tours of the brewery are available both days, and include the chance for families to visit, which is a rare treat reserved for festival weekend. A family tour for two adults and up to four children costs £37.50, and a traditional tour priced £23.50 per person. Mini tours will also be held at a cost of £18.50 per person.
Beer lovers will be delighted to hear that seasonal favourite Late Red (4.5%) will be on offer at selected pubs during the weekend, alongside this year’s limited edition green hop ale Hop Pocket (4.5%) will also unveiled at the festival. Beer is usually brewed with dried hops, but Hop Pocket will be made using fresh green hops which go from bine to beer in a matter of hours, giving it a delicious aroma and earthy kick.
And there’s also an extra treat on offer, with the fantastic prize of beer for a year up for grabs! Festival goers simply need to scan the QR code which will be found on posters around Shepherd Neame pubs during the weekend, and on the Hop Spots map.
Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “Faversham Hop Festival is a fantastic celebration of our hop heritage in Kent, and Shepherd Neame has been proud to support the event since its inception.
“It provides a fantastic boost to our town, attracting thousands over the weekend - we look forward to playing our part in the celebrations across our pubs and at our brewery.”
For more information and a full line-up of bands at Shepherd Neame’s pubs, visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/hop-festival
To book a brewery tour visit: https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/visitor-centre/brewery-tours/book and click on Special Events.
About Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame has been based in the market town of Faversham, Kent for over 300 years. Perhaps best known for great British classic ales such as Spitfire Amber, which carries the Royal Warrant, its diverse portfolio includes the Bear Island and Whitstable Bay collections. It also brews international lagers under licence including premium Thai lager Singha. The independent family business boasts an award-winning visitor centre and 289 pubs and hotels throughout London and the South East, from the historic heart of the City to the Kent coastline.
Shepherd Neame is not responsible for the content on third party websites.
For further information please visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk
