Two Top Tourism Honours for Shepherd Neame Pub

A 600-year-old Kent pub has won two honours in this year’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards.

The Woolpack Inn, owned by Shepherd Neame, is located in the picturesque village of Chilham near Canterbury, chosen as a setting for many film and TV productions including the BBC’s 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.

Run by licensees Terry and Nicola Green since 2010, it is a traditional pub with 14 rooms, boasting a host of original features including beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces.

The Woolpack Inn was among more than 120 businesses to enter this year’s Beautiful South Awards, which recognise and celebrate tourism companies and experiences in the South East.

It has just been named winner of a Highly Commended award in the Tourism Pub of the Year category, and a Highly Commended award in the Bed and Breakfast, Guest Accommodation of the Year category.

It is the latest honour for the Woolpack Inn, which was named Marketing Pub of the Year at the Shepherd Neame Pub Awards in July. Judges praised Terry and Nicola for embracing a wealth of unusual methods to attract customers, including introducing a food and drink takeaway service, becoming the village’s Post Office parcel drop and offering a shuttle service to any destination for guests.

Terry said:

We are absolutely over the moon to have been Highly Commended in two categories of the Beautiful South Awards, when we were up against such a diverse and accomplished range of competitors. It is fantastic for the team to have our hard work recognised in this way.