Shepherd Neame’s Visitor Centre at its Faversham brewery has been named a ‘Hidden Gem’ in VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Accolades.
On the Shepherd Neame brewery tour. Photographs: Shepherd Neame
The Visitor Centre in Court Street, Faversham, was named among nine winners in the South East that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out. The accolade follows an annual assessment. Inspectors took part in a brewery tour in the summer.
Inspectors praised all aspects of the tour, including customer care and cleanliness. It takes visitors through the brewing process, as well as looking at the history of the business, and ends off with a tasting of a selection of the brewer’s award-winning beers.
The inspectors said: “Content remains very good and is well-paced and informative, without being too technical. They added: “Customer care was to a high standard throughout the tour … very good use of anecdotes, and ad hoc historical references were engaging, and a very good knowledge of the brewery and brewing process was evident.”
Shepherd Neame’s 80-minute tour around its historic Faversham Brewery site involves: seeing brewing and fermentation vessels; tasting natural mineral water from the brewery’s well; trying some malted barley; and smelling locally-grown Kentish hops.
The tour also includes a visit to the Old Brewery Store, housed in the old wines and spirits store, which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles, a recreated coopers’ workshop, bygone pub signs, and a collection of hop picking memorabilia.
Tasting time in the visitor centre
It ends back in the Visitor Centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame’s Kentish ales and speciality lagers, before visitors have the chance to visit the brewery shop and pick up a souvenir, gift, or beer.
Shepherd Neame’s head of customer relations, Giles Hilton, said: “We are delighted that our Visitor Centre has been recognised as one of the country’s top visitor attraction experiences.
“Thousands of people enjoy our brewery tours each year, learning more about Britain’s oldest brewer. It is testament to the hard work and welcoming nature of our team members, and all those behind the scenes who play a part in the production process, that we have received such an accolade.”
VisitEngland director, Andrew Stokes, said: “It’s so exciting to see our brilliant attractions providing outstanding experiences for visitors, and to recognise and showcase the variety and quality across the country.
“England has unmissable visitor attractions and experiences that deliver world-class customer service. They also provide the warmest of welcomes and unforgettable storytelling that connects the whole experience, including retail and food and drink offers that exceed expectations.”
• To book a tour at Shepherd Neame’s Visitor Centre, click here.
