insideKENT Magazine Issue 95 - February 2020 | Page 74

FOOD+DRINK T OM K ER RI D G E ’ S PUB I N T H E PA R K F E STI V A L AN N O UN C ES EX C I TI N G F I R S T PUB S T O J O IN T HE L I N E - UP CROSSFIRE IS FIRST CASK CL U B REL EA SE O F 20 2 0 Shepherd Neame has announced that its first Cask Club beer of 2020 will be Crossfire (4.2% ABV), an English IPA bursting with apricot and citrus notes. Crossfire has been brewed using the Ernest hop, which is renowned for its heady hints of tropical fruit and New World characteristics. It is the first time that Shepherd Neame has used the distinctive Kentish hop, which is named after Professor Ernest Salmon who oversaw its initial cultivation back in the 1950s. Shepherd Neame’s senior brewer Stewart Tricker said: “The Ernest hop was first discovered in the Kentish fields of the East Malling Research Station, later Wye Hops, in the early 1950s. It was not extensively developed due to the belief at the time that it had a strong American aroma. Following the changing tastes in beer styles and flavour profiles in recent years, however, this hop is now a perfect choice for us to use. We are very excited to be creating a new beer with this historic hop.” Crossfire will be available throughout February. The Cask Club initiative was launched by Shepherd Neame last year and highlights Britain’s oldest brewer’s continued passion for innovation and seasonality while also attracting new cask ale drinkers. The programme for 2020 promises to be every bit as groundbreaking as last year. Future ales to look out for over the next few months include Why Can’t We Be Fronds (March), a botanical beer, Samuel Adams Blonde Ambition (April) and May Bee (May), a honey ale. www.sncaskclub.co.uk 74 Pub in the Park has announced the first pubs for the Tunbridge Wells event in 2020 and with firm favourites such as Tom Kerridge’s The Hand and Flowers, The Small Holding, The Kentish Hare and The Star Inn, the line up is looking better than ever. BEN H U GH ES P O P U P CO MES T O A SH F O RD With more restaurants this year than ever before, the line-up is looking bigger and better with some stunning pubs and restaurants including Kerridge’s two Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers and Michelin starred The Coach, plus new additions for 2020 highlights include; Tredwells by Marcus Wareing, Josh Eggleton’s Root, Glynn Purnell’s Michelin starred Purnell’s, Paul Ainsworth’s The Mariners Public House in Rock, Nieves Barragan’s Sabor in Mayfair, Paul Foster’s Salt, The Star and Garter in Leamington Spa, Michelin starred The Olive Tree in Bath, Candice Brown’s The Green Man in Eversholt, Atul Kochhar’s new opening Vaasu and Tom Brown’s Cornerstone in Hackney Wick. Due to popular demand returning pubs include; Cyrus Todiwala’s Café Spice Namaste, Tim Allen’s Flitch of Bacon, Dom Robinson’s Michelin-starred The Blackbird, Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern, Jose Pizzaro, Andrew Pern’s The Star Inn, Michel Roux Jr.’s The Wigmore , Stephen Terry’s The Hardwick, Heston Blumenthal’s The Hinds Head, Jodie Kidd’s The Half Moon Inn Kirdford, James MacKenzie’s The Pipe & Glass, Rick Stein, Claude Bosi, and the brilliant Angela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano. Ben Hughes’ acclaimed pop up, which offers diners a unique experience, arrives at Stag Coffee, Ashford on the 10th February. Appearing at different venues, Ben and the team highlight the best the region has to offer, framing the best ingredients of the county and surrounding areas in a taster menu format. With an average price of £35 for a 5 course taster menu, with menu categories of foraged, air, sea, land, and pudding. Ben’s food philosophy is to keep things simple with the focus on flavour, the menus often appear listing only three ingredients, but expect clever cooking and bold flavours. Pre-sale tickets to Pub in The Park, Tunbridge Wells,10-12 July 2020, go on-sale on 5th February with general release on sale 7th February. Sign up to the mailing list by e-mailing [email protected] or book via buytickets.at/benhughespopup