SHEPHERD NEAME ANNOUNCED AS PRINCIPAL SPONSOR FOR FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL 2023 AS ORGANISERS APPEAL FOR SUPPORT

Following the successful return of the Faversham Hop Festival after a two-year break last year, organisers have begun preparations for the 2023 event – with Shepherd Neame back as principal sponsor.

The Faversham-based brewer and pub company is proud to be backing the popular event, which will run on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, for another year.

Shepherd Neame joins sponsors Bridger’s Law, Edward Vinson Limited and Keith’s Motors in supporting the festival, which is free to the public.

Director of non-profit festival organisers, Community Heritage Events, Colin Jones, said: “We are delighted to announce that preparations for Hop Fest 2023 are well and truly underway.

“We are grateful to the sponsors who have already signed up to support this year’s festival. This is a great start, giving us confidence to plan ahead. But it is only a start.”

The event costs a total of £100,000 to stage, and last year’s event was made possible through a community fundraising campaign.

Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, has been supporting the event, which commemorates the golden days of hop picking in Kent, since it was first held 33 years ago. 

Festival goers can enjoy live music across four stages and in pubs throughout the town, along with great food and drink, a family fun area, stalls, parades, exhibitions and other activities. 

Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “The Faversham Hop Festival is a celebration of Kent’s heritage, attracting thousands of visitors, and also providing a significant economic boost to our pubs, retailers and town as a whole.

“We were delighted to see it back last year, bringing people together again, and we very much look forward to joining the celebrations again in 2023.”
 
Shepherd Neame will be sponsoring the stage in the Market Square, as well as organising a stage and bar outside the Brewery in Court Street. 

There are also opportunities for festivalgoers to camp overnight at the Abbey School in London Road, where the official festival car park is also located. Applications are now open for camping spaces and stallholders. 

A fundraising page has now gone live. To make a donation towards ensuring this year’s event goes ahead, go to www.favershamhopfestival.org and click on the donation button.

If your business is able to invest in an event, contact organisers via email [email protected] call 01795 700132.