Following our successful visit to Balfour Winery last year
We head off to Kent again for this year’s cultural and social educational outing!
A visit to Britain’s oldest brewery
SHEPHERD NEAME BREWERY
VISITORS CENTRE 11 Court Street FAVERSHAM ME 13 7DX
In the medieval market town of Faversham, the family run brewery has been part of everyday life for more than three centuries. An independent family business with the distinction of being Britain’s oldest brewer. Modernised in the last ten years while remaining true to its traditions the main brewhouse has a minimum batch size of 110 barrels produces 180,000 barrels a year. There is also a state of the art dedicated Small Batch brewery with 15 barrel kit for creating limited edition batches of cask and keg ales.
The tour of the brewery includes sample ales and is followed by a 2-course lunch, menus to follow. Date for the Diary.
heart of the medieval town of Faversham close to Faversham Creek, Friday, Friday 18th September 2026, starting at 10.30 am, Our tour itself begins at 10.50am
The brewery is a ten to fifteen-minute walk from Faversham station through the historic market square and home to Faversham’s Guildhall, on sticks! Trains leave Victoria at ten past and twenty to the hour and journey time on average 70 minutes. Ideally, we need to arrive at the visitor’s centre at 11 Court Street by 10.30am. Bear left out of the station, cross the road at the zebra crossing and turn right into Preston Street. Walk to the bottom of the road through the pedestrianised area. Turn left into Market Street then right at the square and follow Market Place up to Court Street. The brewery will be on your left a little further up the road. Come to the Visitor Centre, 11 Court Street, on the corner of Partridge Lane and Court Street by 10.30am.
The town is ripe with history including King James II's detention in Faversham in 11th December 1688, and it is said that on his release he issued a formal proclamation forgiving the people of England their sins while specifically excluding the town of Faversham. While attempting to flee to France during the Glorious Revolution, James II was stopped and captured by local fishermen near Sheerness and brought to Faversham and imprisoned in what is now part of the brewery!
The event is heavily associated with his humiliation, capture, and personal resentment toward the local inhabitants and fishermen who mistreated him.
MEMBERS £60 – MEMBER’S GUESTS £70
NON-MEMBERS £80
