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FOOD + DRINK
SHEPHERD NEAME KICKS OFF NEW PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH GILLINGHAM FOOTBALL CLUB
Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has signed a new multi-year pouring rights partnership deal with EFL League Two club Gillingham FC .
The Faversham-based brewer , which has 300 pubs and hotels across Kent , London and the South East , has been chosen as the official provider of beer , cider , wines , spirits and soft drinks at Gillingham ’ s Priestfield Stadium . The partnership began on Saturday 13 July when ‘ The Gills ’ took on Millwall FC in a pre-season friendly , with Shepherd Neame brands available on draught for supporters to enjoy around the stadium .
Shepherd Neame ’ s chief executive Jonathan Neame said : “ We take pride in being at the heart of our communities , so we are delighted to announce our new partnership with Gillingham Football Club . The Gills are a great Kent club with a rich heritage , and we look forward to working with them and celebrating their achievements during the coming years .”
FARM TABLE LAUNCHES AT THE SMALL HOLDING
New for the Summer at The Small Holding is Farm Table , a series of intimate , alfresco suppers hosted amongst the wild flower meadow and vegetable beds . This magical dining experience will start as the sun sets with a glass of Sussex sparkling from Artelium Wine Estate and a walk around the farm , seeing what produce is in perfect condition to harvest .
Opened in 2018 by brothers Will and Matt Devlin , The Small Holding is a Michelin green-starred restaurant and farm in Kilndown . Growing , foraging and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding , with monthly changing tasting menus using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm , which is less than 10 feet from the kitchen .
Farm Table is exclusively for eight guests with just one sitting each month for August and September at a cost of £ 120 per person .
PIG & PORTER DELIGHTED TO WIN GOLD IN THE BEST BEER CATEGORY AT THE TASTE OF KENT AWARDS
Pig & Porter , an award-winning craftbrewery based in Tunbridge Wells , were delighted to win Gold in the ‘ Best Beer Category ’ for ‘ Lucky Day ’ at the Taste of Kent Awards , held on Thursday 13 June at The Gulbenkian , Canterbury .
Despite some stiff competition from Shepherd Neame ’ s 1698 and The Wild Beer Co ’ s Madness , the judging panel described the Pig & Porter ’ s Lucky Day as “ Lovely and hazy with a creamy head . Fabulously quaffable and not too much citrus , a very moreish Kentish IPA . Like sea air and ale !
Bright with nice haze , tropical notes , good body , refreshing , hoppy and flavourful .”
Robin Wright , founder of Pig & Porter , commented : “ We are all absolutely thrilled with the news that our KEIPA Lucky Day has been awarded Gold in the Best Beer category at The Taste of Kent Awards . We have a small but exceptional team at Pig and Porter and this award means a huge amount to us . My goal remains to retain our growing reputation as a renowned and much loved Kentish institution .” www . insidekent . co . uk • 105