Beer and Brewing

Shepherd Neame

Samuel Shepherd took control of a brewery for the first time in 1741, although the brewery itself had been in existence since 1698, when it was founded by Captain Richard Marsh, the mayor of Faversham.

The original brewery premises were in North Street and were founded over an artesian well, giving the premises access to a quantity of pure water that would prove perfect for making beer. Indeed, more than 20 separate breweries are thought to have been operating in the town by the late 17th century.

Samuel Shepherd and his sons started to purchase a number of pubs in the town, as well as improving the production process. Most notably, they became the first brewery outside of London to make use of a steam engine to improve the process. As a result of this innovation, the brewery became known as the Faversham Steam Brewery.

The company was to go through various name changes over the years, but became Shepherd Neame & Co in 1864, when Percy Beale Neame joined the partnership. He was not yet 30 years of age.

It was in 1877 that Percy Beale Neame took full control of the company, hastening a period of expansion. By his death, in 1913, the brewery owned no fewer than 85 pubs. Following his death, Shepherd Neame became a private limited company, with all of his children retaining an interest in the business.

The company was to continue to expand, purchasing the Mason's Brewery in Maidstone, along with its 50 pubs.

By the beginning of the 1990s, the company owned more than 250 pubs. By 2008 this figure had risen to more than 350 pubs.

In the year 2006-2007 Shepherd Neame had a turnover of £100 million.

Shepherd Neame now brew a number of well known beers, most notably Spitfire (produced since 1990) and Bishops Finger. They also brew, under licence, Holsten Export and Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer.