Shepherd Neame has unveiled plans to build a new brewery in Faversham, Kent, at a cost of £15m.
The British ale brewer said it would build a new, smaller brewery on its town centre site, focused on the production of its own beer brands.
The Spitfire brewer would therefore exit third-party contract brewing, calling time on its deal to brew and distribute Singha Premium Thai Lager in the UK from next April, it said. Currently, the business had revenues of £10.3m associated with this contract, it noted.
The new brewery, which will be constructed within the existing bottling hall at Shepherd Neame, would “improve operational efficiency, enhance sustainability and drive higher returns for the business”, the brewer claimed.
The project will commence next year and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
It would be self-funded through the sale of “non-core” property, Shepherd Neame said.
Unlike rival supplier Carlsberg Britvic, Shepherd Neame said it had no plans to turn its back on ale brewing.
“The combination of the company’s pub estate and brewing remains at the heart of Shepherd Neame’s operations,” it said. “Brewing is integral to our identity and ultimately our prosperity.
Beer volumes at Shepherd Neame fell by 0.6% in the 17 weeks to 24 October 2026, the business said, adding own beer volumes were down 2.2% over the same period.
Jonathan Neame, Shepherd Neame CEO, said: “This plan is a great opportunity to modernise and evolve our operations, and to create a unique brand home, with brewing at its heart. The new brewery, which will be self-funded, will be adapted to the needs of tomorrow, and will be efficient and cost-effective. Combined with sustained investment in our pub business, it will enable us to drive higher returns for the business and its shareholders.
“These steps represent a major commitment to brewing, to Faversham and to our heritage in beer, and our belief in an exciting future for the company, in the next phase of its development.”
Shepherd Neame’s stable of ale brands includes Spitfire, Bishops Finger and Whitstable Bay, sold in retailers including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose and Aldi.
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