Shepherd Neame’s Park Tavern, Sittingbourne, Marks Its Place in Swale CAMRA's 50-Year History

Geovanni Demichele, Park Tavern licensee Steve Bury, group chairman, Paul Durkin original founding member and John Sissons

Members of the Swale branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) returned to the place where it all began at the weekend – The Park Tavern in Sittingbourne - to mark their 50^th anniversary.

The group first met at the Park Road pub on February 17, 1976, and last Saturday (February 20), current members gathered there to commemorate the milestone.

Around 30 members attended, including Paul Durkin, who was present at the founding meeting 50 years ago.

The group enjoyed plenty of pints of Master Brew cask ale and Spitfire Amber Ale laid on by the pub’s owners, Shepherd Neame, and viewed a display of historic memorabilia.

Exhibits included local press cuttings from the 1970s, Shepherd Neame artefacts, and minutes from early meetings held in another pub, The Fountain, leading up to the group’s formation, which came five years after CAMRA was founded nationally.

To commemorate the anniversary, members presented The Park Tavern’s current licensee Giovanni Demichele with a certificate, which has since been proudly displayed on the wall.

Swale 50th Anniversary co-ordinator John Kent said: “It was brilliant, we were very pleased with the turnout. We do actually have more members today than we did in 1976.

“We wanted to revive cask ale and get people drinking beer in pubs – and we still have the same aim today!”

The branch now meets monthly, choosing a different pub each time, and also organises various outings through the year.

Licensee Giovanni added: “I was delighted to welcome them to the pub for this special celebration – and it’s great to know that they consider my cask ale to be so good!”

You can find The Park Tavern at Park Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 1DZ, and by visiting https://www.parktavernsittingbourne.co.uk/.

ENDS

About Shepherd Neame

Shepherd Neame has been based in the market town of Faversham, Kent for over 300 years. Perhaps best known for great British classic ales such as Spitfire Amber, which carries the Royal Warrant, its diverse portfolio includes Five Grain Lager, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale and Bear Island Triple Hopped Lager, and the Whitstable Bay Collection. It also brews international lagers under licence including Samuel Adams Boston Lager and premium Thai lager Singha. The independent family business boasts an award-winning visitor centre and more than 300 pubs and hotels throughout London and the South East, from the historic heart of the City to the Kent coastline.

Shepherd Neame is not responsible for the content on third party websites.

For further information please contact Communications Manager Angela Cole on 01795 542142 or email acole@shepherdneame.co.uk or visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.