New heights

1990 - 2010

In 1990, Shepherd Neame produced Spitfire to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Originally intended to be a one-off brew to raise funds for charity, Spitfire proved a huge hit with drinkers, thanks in part to a successful marketing campaign with cheeky ‘Dad’s Army’-style humour, and is now  one of the UK’s best-loved beers.

In 1991, Bobby's son Jonathan Neame joined the company. He was appointed Managing Director in 1999 and Chief Executive in 2003.

1998 saw Shepherd Neame celebrating 300 years of brewing with, among other things, the release of their 1698 Kentish Strong Ale. It would become part of the Classic Collection in 2012 alongside Bishops Finger, India Pale Ale and Double Stout.

In 2004, the company undertook a major upgrade with the installation of a new keg plant and the opening of a new distribution centre. A new cask packaging operation followed in 2007 and a new bottling line in 2009.

In 2007, Shepherd Neame provided land at Queen Court Farm to house the National Hop Collection. The Collection now numbers almost 200 historic varieties of hops, varieties that are not only preserved in this ‘living museum’, but are also used to breed new varieties for commercial production.

Bobby Neame stepped down as Chairman in 2005, and retired from the Board a year later. He passed away in 2019, aged 85.

In 2006, Shepherd Neame received the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development and was named the Best UK Family Business in the £25m plus turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2009/10. At this stage, its estate comprised more than 350 pubs.