top of page

Shepherd Neame Teams Up With Pub Licensee To Support Whitstable Yacht



Independent family brewer Shepherd Neame has teamed up with the licensee of its Whitstable pub, The Old Neptune, to support a local yacht competing in an international race.


The Sailing Yacht Cormorant will take part in the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race, which starts in Malta on Saturday (October 17), becoming the first yacht from Whitstable to take part in the prestigious event.


Sponsored jointly by Shepherd Neame and The Old Neptune’s licensee Darren Wilton, the yacht will be sailed by Whitstable resident Patrick Maflin, Director and Founder of Marine Accounts, and members of his team. The Kent accountancy firm has spent the last 12 years working with crews, captains and marine professionals across the yachting industry.


Now in its 47th year, the race will start from Malta’s historic Grand Harbour, with the fleet setting off beneath the fortified walls of Valletta before racing out into the Mediterranean.


Affectionately known as ‘The Neppy’, The Old Neptune is one of the country’s most recognisable coastal pubs, thanks to its unique beachfront location. The logos of both the pub and Shepherd Neame’s Whitstable Bay range will be displayed on the yacht’s hull throughout the race.


The award-winning Whitstable Bay collection comprises Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Whitstable Bay Lager and Whitstable Bay 0.5% Pale Ale. Inspired by the seaside town just a few miles from Shepherd Neame’s historic Faversham Brewery, the range celebrates the character and heritage of the Kent coast.


Licensee of The Old Neptune, Darren Wilton, said:

“Pat is a local at The Old Neptune, and I’ve known him for more than 20 years - we even call him Captain Pat! When he mentioned he would be showcasing Whitstable with a yacht race around Sicily, I really wanted the pub to get involved. You can’t showcase Whitstable without The Old Neptune! We hope the team do well and come back here for a celebratory drink after the race.”

Shepherd Neame Head of Brands Rose Davis said:

“We are thrilled to support the team aboard the Sailing Yacht Cormorant for this historic race. As the first yacht from Whitstable to take on the Rolex Middle Sea Race, this is a fantastic opportunity to introduce our Whitstable Bay range, The Old Neptune pub, and everything else the seaside town has to offer, to an international audience. We wish the team the best of luck!”

From Malta, the fleet heads north towards Sicily before passing through the Strait of Messina, a narrow stretch of water between Sicily and mainland Italy.


The yachts will then race around the volcanic island of Stromboli, along the northern coast of Sicily, and around the western islands of the course, before heading south past Pantelleria and Lampedusa.


The final stretch takes the boats back towards Malta and the finish line, covering approximately 606 nautical miles. The race attracts a diverse field of competitors, from some of the world’s fastest professional racing yachts to experienced amateur crews taking on a demanding offshore challenge. Conditions can include light winds, heavy seas and challenging currents, with crews spending long periods racing through the night. For some, completing the course takes several days at sea.


Patrick said:

“We started with an idea not just to sail a course, but to build a legacy. With the support of Shepherd Neame and The Old Neptune, that idea has become a reality.”

The race can be followed live on the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Rolex Middle Sea Race social media channels, with commentary in English.


Find out more here. 

Most Read

Hill Cross Furniture Raises £1,500 For Overgate Hospice

Hill Cross Furniture Raises £1,500 For Overgate Hospice

North Yorkshire furniture specialist Hill Cross Furniture has presented £1,500 to Overgate Hospice after taking on a 1,042-mile cycling challenge inspired by the team’s work on the hospice’s new Inpatient Unit.

High Street Gloom as Leicester City Centre Welcomes New Openings

High Street Gloom as Leicester City Centre Welcomes New Openings

Leicester continues to buck the national narrative of high street closures as a new wave of restaurants, cafés, fashion stores and independent businesses open their doors across the city centre.

Barcare Supreme Is UK's Distributor For The Nordik DriPod Glass Dryer

Barcare Supreme Is UK's Distributor For The Nordik DriPod Glass Dryer

Stafford-based commercial catering equipment specialists Barcare Supreme have become the first UK distributor for the Nordik DriPod glass dryer range.

Categories

Jan 8, 2025
2 min read

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has begun high-level masonry inspections to review the historic fabric at Dunfermline Abbey and Palace.


Due to the scale of the site, specialist teams are using a number of different methods to access the property, including abseiling and a 73 metre Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) to reach the highest points of the Abbey spire.


High Level Masonry Programme Manager at HES, Grant Black, said: “The inspections at Dunfermline Abbey are part of an ongoing programme looking at the impact of climate change on historic structures, in combination with other factors. The spire on the Abbey stands at roughly 40 metres high, making it the tallest site we’ve inspected so-far, which means we need to employ a number of different methods at the site to carry out the inspection programme."


"These tactile inspections, which also involve checking masonry by hand, are helping us to examine the Abbey in different ways and will help to manage the site for future generations.”

These inspections form part of a nationwide programme to assess the effects of climate change on sites with high-level masonry over 1.5 metres, in combination with other factors. Results from the surveys help to inform any necessary remedial repairs as well as future conservation work at sites across Scotland. 


To help facilitate the works, a minor road closure on St Catherine’s Wynd, from the Life nightclub to the vennel at the Palace Gatehouse, will remain in place until 17 January to provide a safe working distance for the MEWP.


Dunfermline Abbey, which dates back to the 11th century, will remain open whilst the inspections continue throughout January, with occasional safety cordons in place to allow the team space to work.

Until 8 February, visitors to the site can also experience the David I: A Revolution exhibition, which marks the 900th anniversary of his crowning and explores the changes made across Scotland throughout his reign.

Most Read

Hill Cross Furniture Raises £1,500 For Overgate Hospice

Hill Cross Furniture Raises £1,500 For Overgate Hospice

North Yorkshire furniture specialist Hill Cross Furniture has presented £1,500 to Overgate Hospice after taking on a 1,042-mile cycling challenge inspired by the team’s work on the hospice’s new Inpatient Unit.

High Street Gloom as Leicester City Centre Welcomes New Openings

High Street Gloom as Leicester City Centre Welcomes New Openings

Leicester continues to buck the national narrative of high street closures as a new wave of restaurants, cafés, fashion stores and independent businesses open their doors across the city centre.

Barcare Supreme Is UK's Distributor For The Nordik DriPod Glass Dryer

Barcare Supreme Is UK's Distributor For The Nordik DriPod Glass Dryer

Stafford-based commercial catering equipment specialists Barcare Supreme have become the first UK distributor for the Nordik DriPod glass dryer range.

Categories

Half Of Fire Services Missing Basic Wildfire Kit

Half Of Fire Services Missing Basic Wildfire Kit

Fire services don’t have the basic equipment, training or resources they need to cope with soaring wildfire numbers, according to FOI requests submitted by the Country Land and Business Association. The CLA approached 47 fire services in England and Wales. In total, 29 responded. The findings show: Basic kit missing: Over half (12/22) fire services have no wildfire PPE and a third of stations have zero drones, despite how critical they are in allowing crews to safely track, monitor and tackle...

One Profession One Region One Voice Birmingham Law Society's New Leadership

One Profession One Region One Voice Birmingham Law Society's New Leadership

Guy Barnett has been sworn in as the 134th President of Birmingham Law Society, pledging to strengthen Council, connect Birmingham’s legal community.

BYD Achieves Highest UK Sales Achieving 20,140 Registrations In September

BYD Achieves Highest UK Sales Achieving 20,140 Registrations In September

BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles (fully electric and plug-in hybrid), continues to see the popularity of its products rise with British car buyers.

Recent Posts

bottom of page