Faversham-based brewer Shepherd Neame has been named as the official beer supplier of The 149th Open taking place at Royal St George’s in Sandwich this summer.
It has been a decade since The Open was last played at the historic Kent links in 2011, and the global sporting event, running from July 15 to 18, is expected to attract thousands of spectators.
As the official supplier of The 149th Open, Shepherd Neame’s award-winning beers will be on sale in Royal St George’s exclusive clubhouse, and at bespoke outside bars erected around the course. The popular Shepherd Neame beers Spitfire Lager and Whitstable Bay Black Stout will be bottled for the occasion, with a limited number available exclusively for the public on its online shop. It is the first time Whitstable Bay Black Stout is available in a take-home format.
Shepherd Neame hosted the Claret Jug at its Faversham brewery on Wednesday, June 30, (Director of Retail and Tenanted Operations Nigel Bunting pictured with the Claret Jug) and will also be hosting a number of the golfers and supporters in its estate of pubs and hotels around the area. Golf fans can also visit Shepherd Neame’s The Royal Hotel in Deal, where a bespoke hospitality tent and Golden Ticket competition will feature for the duration.
To celebrate the prestigious occasion, Shepherd Neame is partnering with Visit Kent to offer an overnight stay at The Bell in Sandwich as part of a Kent-wide competition exclusively available to The 149th Open database.
Shepherd Neame’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Neame said, “We are incredibly excited to be partnering with The R&A for this historic sporting occasion in our Kent homeland. The Open is a world-renowned event, presenting an opportunity to drive footfall to the local area, and showcase what the wider Garden of England has to offer.
“The 149th Open will undoubtedly provide a much-needed boost for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Kent, and, after such a challenging year, it is fantastic to finally have such a positive, exciting event to look forward to.”
John Espley, Director of Commercial Partnerships at The R&A, said, “Shepherd Neame has a long and cherished history as Britain’s oldest brewer and is renowned for producing award-winning beers from its home in Kent. We look forward to working with them to offer our fans and guests a range of high quality and enjoyable local products at the Championship when The Open returns to the region for the first time since 2011 in July.”