Shepherd Neame is renovating its brewery in Faversham. The existing facility is too large for future needs and will be replaced by a modern, smaller one. According to Inside.beer, the new facility will require only one-third of the space previously used. The company plans to invest 15 million pounds over three years, as announced on October 29, one day before its annual general meeting.
Britain’s Oldest Brewer
Shepherd Neame is based in Faversham in the southern English county of Kent and calls itself Britain’s oldest brewer, founded in 1698. Jonathan Neame is the fifth generation to run the family business. Among its best-known beers are the Amber Ale “Spitfire”, the Session Bitter “Master Brew”, and the Premium Bitter “Bishops Finger.” The brewery owns 286 pubs and hotels, most of which are located in Kent and London.
In the 2025/26 fiscal year, Shepherd Neame bottled approximately 161,000 hectoliters. In 2025, the figure was still around 177,000 hectoliters. A key factor in production volume is the Thai brand Singha. Shepherd Neame has been the exclusive distributor of this lager in the United Kingdom since 2019, and since 2022, Singha has also been brewed under license in Faversham.
This license expires at the end of April 2027; the contract generated 10.3 million pounds in revenue. At the same time, the volume of the company’s own beers fell by 9.6 percent in the fiscal year ending in June, and revenue from the brewing division dropped by 4.6 percent to 42.8 million pounds, according to Sharecast. With the renovation, Shepherd Neame will focus on its own beers in the future.
New Construction in the Bottling Hall
The new brewery is being built in the existing bottling hall, which will close in mid-2027. Some of the existing equipment will remain in use, and water will continue to be sourced from the company’s own well. Construction is expected to take two years and be completed by the end of 2029; brewing will continue at the old location until then. The product lineup will remain unchanged. The project will be funded by the sale of real estate not related to the core business. The building permit application is scheduled to be submitted in November. A ten-year plan is in place for the remaining site, which will include a pub, a larger visitor center, dining facilities, and a public square called Brewery Square.
Sources: Inside.beer; Shepherd Neame
Photo: Screenshot Shepherd Neame @ Facebook
Text: Birgit Rieber
