Posted: 15th June 2016
Shepherd Neame's Visitor Centre Receives Top Honour
Shepherd Neame’s award-winning Visitor Centre has won its fourth Certificate of Excellence award from the world’s largest travel website TripAdvisor.
The award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments which consistently achieve outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor.
It is the latest in a string of awards in recent months for the Visitor Centre and its staff, which include a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service in the Beautiful South Tourism Awards, and VisitEngland Best Told Story award.
The Visitor Centre is set in a beautifully-restored medieval hall house on the historic brewery site in Faversham.
From there, visitors can join a 80 minute guided tour through the busy working brewery, to learn about the ancient art of brewing. They can see brewing and fermentation vessels; taste natural mineral water from the brewery’s well; try some malted barley and smell locally-grown Kentish hops.
The tour also includes a visit to the Old Brewery Store, housed in the old wines and spirits store, which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles, a recreated cooper’s workshop, bygone pub signs and a collection of hop picking memorabilia
It ends back in the Visitor Centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame’s Kentish ales and speciality lagers, before visitors have the chance to visit the Brewery Shop and pick up a souvenir, gift or some of their favourite beer.
Evening tours and events are available, including the popular six-course Beer and Food Matching dinner, where guests enjoy a meal of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with a beer to match each course. There is also regular live music and entertainment in The Old Brewery Store.
Visitor Centre manager Graham Hukins said:
We are delighted to receive TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the fourth year running. I am delighted that the dedication and passion of our Visitor Centre team has been recognised with consistently excellent customer feedback.
For more information and to book a tour, visit the website or call the Visitor Centre on 01795 542016.