FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL PROMISES LIVE MUSIC, PARADES AND PRIZES - INCLUDING FREE BEER!

Faversham Hop Festival is back on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, with Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, as principal sponsor for another year.

And the Faversham-based brewer has some exciting hop-related fun to top off the festivities from parties to prizes and tastings to taking special selfies!

The town will come alive with live music across four stages and in pubs throughout the town, along with great food and drink, a family fun area, stalls, parades through the streets including some of the brewer’s vintage vehicles, morris dancing and plenty more. 

Shepherd Neame joins sponsors Bridger’s Law, Edward Vinson Limited and Keith’s Motors in supporting this year’s event, which is free to the public, and organised by Community Heritage Events Ltd.

It is also sponsoring the main stage over the weekend, and its historic brewery in Court Street will play host to the opening party for the festival weekend on Friday, September 1.

The Old Brewery Store inside the brewery will, in conjunction with Candy Rock Events, host a gig by ultimate ska and blues band P45 with support from Rudy Warman and the Heavy Weather. Early bird tickets cost £10, available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/p45-with-support-from-rudy-warman-the-heavy-weather-tickets-695385114597 

Shepherd Neame is also running a competition for festivalgoers to sleep under the stars and wake refreshed for both days of the event.

It is giving away a two-night stay for four in one of Bell Tent Family Adventure’s luxury furnished bell tents.

There are only six on the campsite at the Abbey School in the town over festival weekend, with names such as Willow, Poppy, Daisy and Primrose, and the lucky winners will also receive a special welcome hamper on arrival.

The stay can be for a family of four or two singles. To be in with a chance of winning this amazing package worth £200, simply enter our prize draw by midnight on Monday, August 28, here: https://snea.me/snfhf23glamping

Shepherd Neame will be running its popular brewery tours over the weekend. There will be family tours on both days at 11am, which cost £35 for two adults and up to four children. There is no tasting at the end, though there is a free pint for the grown-ups and a soft drink for the kids. Please note that pushchairs cannot be left in the reception area.

There will also be standard brewery tours at noon both days, for adults only, costing £22.50 per person, followed by a tutored tasting of six beers in The Old Brewery Store. Adult visitors can also enjoy mini tours at 2pm and 3pm both days, which offer 45 minutes in the brewery and a tasting of three beers, costing £17.50 per person.

And one lucky beer lover could also win the fantastic prize of beer for a year! Festival goers simply need to look out for the prize QR codes in each of Shepherd Neame’s nine town centre pubs across the Hop Festival weekend to scan and enter.

And, as festival fans don their hops and party in the streets, the brewer will have a selfie station, adorned with local hops, available for everyone to capture some memories on their phones outside the Visitor Centre in Court Street on both days between noon and 3pm.

Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “Faversham Hop Festival is a unique celebration of Kent’s heritage, and we are proud to be principal sponsor of the event once again. 

“It provides a fantastic boost for our town, attracting thousands of people over the weekend, and we look forward to joining in the celebrations across our pubs and at the brewery.” 
 
For more information visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/hop-festival