The Brewery / Events

Saturday 12th May

MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION @ THE OLD BREWERY STORE

Model Railways return to Faversham at Model Rail 2012.

Up to 20 layouts and trade stands on display in this unique 'steam brewery' location

Brewery Tours will be running during the day for visitors to the Model Rail exhibition. Spaces will be limited.

Admission Fee applicable. Please call 01795 542016 for more details.

Model Rail: Real Ale

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May

TRAVEL THROUGH TIME - FAVERSHAM TRANSPORT WEEKEND

On Saturday, a colourful collection of buses, coaches and charabancs will descend on Faversham. On Sunday the historic town centre will play host to the colourful spectacle of hundreds of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles.

The transport theme will extend to The Old Brewery Store with slot racing cars and other special exhibits. Combine a brewery tour with a stroll around the town centre to see the historic vehicles. Lunches will be served in the Visitor Centre function room on both days.

Advance booking is strongly advised for brewery tours and lunches

Please call the office on 01795 542016 for more details or to book.

Sunday 3rd June

JUBILEE CONCERT - GOOSEBUMPS

Being Britain's Oldest Brewer we know a little about the importance of age and how to celebrate!

Come and join in our 1950's inspired Jubilee Concert along with the 'best looking swingers in town' the Goosebumps

Click here to book

Sunday 17th June

FATHERS' DAY TOURS WITH LUNCH OR TEA

An unbeatable present for Dad! Enjoy a tour of Britain’s Oldest Brewer followed by a tutored tasting and a pint or two over a traditional Sunday lunch or a sumptuous, homemade Brewers’ Tea.

Click here to book

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd September

FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL

During the hop picking heydays of the 1920s and ’30s, almost 100,000 Londoners poured into Kent in late August/September each year. Whole families would join the East End exodus and, for them, the hop harvest was their annual working holiday.

Once the harvest was complete, larger farms would organise a party for the “hoppers” on site, while village greens and halls would provide the venue for such festivities for seasonal workers from other growers.

The carnival atmosphere of the hop harvest lives on at the annual Faversham Hop Festival, now in its 22nd year. Shepherd Neame stages a variety of events at this popular, colourful festival which recalls the traditional celebrations.

The festivities commence as the Mayor arrives at the opening ceremony aboard the Shepherd Neame horse and dray. The weekend also features street entertainers, a myriad of musical acts, puppet shows for the young (and young at heart), vintage Shepherd Neame vehicles, stalls and hops galore. A special Hop Festival Ale, will be available at the brewery and in many of the town’s pubs for this weekend only.

Brewery Tours
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Take an award-winning tour of the brewery and learn a little of the Company’s 300-year heritage and discover how Kentish ales and speciality lagers are brewed. Every tour finishes with a fascinating tutored tasting.
Brewery Tour £11.50– advance booking strongly recommended. Click here to book or call 01795 542285

Saturday 1st September

'THE SPITFIRE' HOP PICKERS STEAM TRAINS

LONDON – FAVERSHAM and FAVERSHAM - SHEERNESS

LONDON - FAVERSHAM - Travel in style to the Faversham Hop Festival

Ride the “Spitfire" to the Faversham Hop Festival. Travel behind “King Arthur” Class locomotive No. 30777* “Sir Lamiel” as Britain's Oldest Brewer conjures up the atmosphere of the trains that once carried thousands of happy hop pickers from London to the Kentish countryside. The locomotive is currently the oldest authorised for mainline use and our tour will include many of the lines it used to work in the 1930s and ’50s.

Climb aboard the train of historic carriages and settle back into your reserved seat as you retrace the journey of East End hop pickers from London to the countryside of Kent for their annual working holiday. Your train will steam out of London Kensington Olympia at around 9.30am*, and call at Clapham Junction, Redhill and Tonbridge to pick-up more passengers before heading through Ashford and Dover to Faversham where arrival is expected at 1.00pm*.
There will be plenty of time to savour the distinctive sights, sounds and tastes of the festival before joining the train for the return trip to London. Arrival back in London is expected at 8.30pm*.

The train will convey a real ale bar, which will be open during the journey serving a range of Shepherd Neame ales. A buffet car for hot and cold drinks and light snacks will also be included in the train.

*Exact details, timings and routes subject to confirmation by Network Rail.
Should 30777 not be permitted, then one of other wonderfully-restored locomotives in the care of the 5305 Locomotive Association, i.e. 70013 or 45305, will haul the train.
All bookings subject to conditions shown on website.

Seats on the “The Spitfire” steam trains are limited so early booking is recommended.

All passengers are allocated a reserved seat aboard the train of historic carriages dating from the 1950s and ’60s.

The train will convey a real ale bar, which will be open during the journey serving a range of Shepherd Neame ales. A buffet car for hot and cold drinks and light snacks will also be included in the train.

Click here or call 01795 542285 to book

FAVERSHAM – SHEERNESS The train will also make a trip from Faversham for festival-goers wishing to take a nostalgic trip behind steam – provisional departure 2.00pm*. The journey will afford passengers excellent views as the train steams to Gillingham and then runs diesel-hauled onto the Isle of Sheppey and Sheerness. Steam will again be in charge for the final leg from Sheerness to Faversham.
* provisional time

Click here for more details or to book... or call 01795 542285

Saturday 27th October

A GHOSTLY EVENING WITH BRITAIN'S OLDEST BREWER

Take a guided evening host tour of the brewery, then savour a superb two-course Hallowe'en themed dinner hosted in the atmospheric Old Brewery Store. Spaces limited so advance booking strongly advised.

Note: Not for the faint hearted! Fancy Dress optional and will be admired.

Call 01795 542285 for more details.

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CALL 01795 542285 FOR FURTHER DETAILS

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