Britain’s oldest brewery unveils £15m plan to move to new site
Britain’s oldest brewery is to sell off land and move to a new site, in a £15m investment plan that seeks to safeguard the future of its operations. Shepherd Neame, which is based in Faversham, Kent where it has been brewing ale since the 17th century, intends to put much of its existing footprint in [...]
Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewery, has announced a £15 million plan to relocate to a new site and modernize its operations. The company, founded in the 17th century in Faversham, Kent, has been brewing ale on the same site for centuries. In a bid to safeguard its future amid rising costs and declining demand, Shepherd Neame intends to sell much of its existing land in Faversham and construct a high-tech, smaller brewery.
The new brewery, set to open in 2029, will be built on the site of the current bottling hall. Jonathan Neame, the company's chairman, stated that the plan aims to address three key challenges: declining volumes, rising costs, and the need for brewery modernization. As part of the move, Shepherd Neame plans to discontinue contract brewing and focus exclusively on its own beer range, including cutting ties with Thai brand Singha upon the expiration of its exclusive £10 million UK contract next year.
The new brewery will be about a third the size of the existing one but will be more scalable, allowing for 24-hour production and easier innovation. The company has also decided to outsource more of its current in-house operations, including packaging. This decision comes in the wake of a decision by the Chancellor to increase alcohol duty, which is charged on every pint sold, from 50p to 52p.
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