Ramsgate Brewery REINVENTED
Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old proverb goes, and, in these needy
times, we’ve all had to be inventive. The Ramsgate Brewery (or GADDS’,
according to your preference) was established in 2002 specifically to supply local
pubs with fresh, tasty cask ale. But, a few weeks ago, the government closures
due to the coronavirus pandemic saw us lose 95% of our business overnight.
More importantly, huge numbers of local people found their supplies of tasty,
fresh beer in jeopardy, whilst our small workforce faced redundancy. Time for
some invention.
With the help of ace local design agency “Pomegranate”, we built a new web
shop, charged up the electric van and established a safe, efficient local delivery
service direct to homes. After testing and refining, we’ve increased capacity and,
with the help of Produced in Kent and the Help Kent Buy Local initiative we
are spreading the word.
We are now delivering bottles and cans throughout Kent, and across the country,
via couriers APC. Delivering direct to residents of Thanet, who are able to order
draught beer with a choice of 6 or 7 ales. Residents around Dover and Canterbury
can access this service too - on a Thursday and Friday respectively (order by
email or phone).
The web shop can be found at www.ramsgatebrewery.co.uk. It’s a great service,
it keeps the GADDS’ flowing and now supports 30% of the workforce here.
Please do give it a go!
The pub industry is likely to be the last to re-open, but, when it does, we probably
won’t go home for a week. In the meantime, you can order your favourite beer
from your phone and have it delivered to your door within hours, in a safe and
efficient manner. Whatever happens in the future, we’ll be grateful for this
particular ‘invention’.
Simply STILL ON THE MENU
The global pandemic has affected businesses in Kent in completely different
ways. Sally Newall at Simply Ice Cream likened it to going back to the beginning
again. “I can’t wait to have my team back, it’s such a juggle without them.
Luckily all four children are back home and they can all make ice cream, as
they were all trained from a young age!
The closure of all food and entertainment outlets had an immediate effect on
Simply Ice Cream’s sales. But the silver lining came in the form of the farm
shops and independent stores, which have seen a massive uplift in sales with
local people using local stores once again.
They are doing a truly remarkable job with many commenting that it's like
Christmas Eve every day, and although the workers are exhausted, it is fantastic
to see this happening. Hopefully
the push to buy local and the benefits
this brings, from seasonal food to
quality local produce, will continue to
really benefit the Kent economy as a
whole, even once we make it out the
other side.
Simply Ice Cream, based in
Bonnington near Ashford, makes
indulgent luxury ice cream and sorbets
by hand, using only the finest
ingredients sourced within Kent
wherever possible, and partnering with
a number of other local artisan
producers like Fudge Kitchen.
Available in farm shops, delis and
independents across the South East
and local produce sections of major
supermarkets.
We have also listed on the
helpkentbuylocal.co.uk site
created by Produced in Kent, which
links businesses and consumers
together. This service has helped
us to launch our own home delivery
service within Kent to everyone
self-isolating.
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