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

Apr 22, 2024
3 min read


A property finance firm has dived in to support a giant mermaid-themed art trail aiming to raise vital funds for local children’s hospice care.


Thousands of families will be able to follow The Great Tail Trail next year thanks to sponsorship from businesses including Poole-based lending specialist MSP Capital. The public trail, featuring 40 sculpted tails in locations across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region, is a fundraising initiative for Julia’s House children’s hospice charity.


Mermaid tails have been specially chosen as they represent the Mermaid Suite at the charity’s hospice in Corfe Mullen, where families can spend time together when their child is at the end of their life. Once the trail is finished, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise vital funds to support the life-changing care Julia’s House provides across Dorset and Wiltshire.


MSP Capital’s Community Committee chose Julia’s House as one of its core charities to support in 2024, continuing a relationship going back over several years.


Speaking after a launch event in the Rockwater restaurant at Branksome Chine beach, MSP Capital’s Associate Director of Credit, Lee Merrifield, a Community Committee member, said:

“This trail promises to be a lot of fun for children and families. The designs will be beautiful, decorative and colourful, and the tails will become landmarks and talking points."

“We already support Julia’s House, for example through our annual beach volleyball tournament in Bournemouth, and everyone in our team is thrilled to be on board with The Great Tail Trail."


“Aside from being part of a fun, summer initiative, we know the fantastic work that Julia’s House does for children and families and we’re keen to do what we can to support them."


“With all the business sponsorship of the trail, and the auctioning of the sculptures at the end of the trail season, hopefully The Great Tail Trail will raise a substantial sum towards essential local children’s hospice services.”


Delivered in partnership with public art specialist Wild in Art, the 40 giant tails will be designed and completed by specially commissioned local artists later this year, ahead of the trail going live across the BCP area for eight weeks from 5 April to 1 June 2025.

Eleanor Collins, MSP Capital Marketing Executive and, like Lee, a Community Committee member, said:

“We’re supporting The Great Tail Trail to help bring fundraising and sponsorship to Julia’s House, while creating a family-friendly focal point for residents and visitors to be inspired by art. The more visitors it attracts, the more money comes into the local community, benefiting all."

“We’re really looking forward to selecting our design and seeing the sculpture on display alongside the others on the trail. Julia’s House is such a fantastic charity and one that we’re pleased to support through our ESG strategy Foundations for Better Futures launched last year. A key strand of Foundations is to support our local community and the charities that operate in it.”


Caroline Attreed, Corporate Fundraiser for Julia’s House, said:

“The Great Tail Trail will be one of the biggest interactive public art trails that BCP will have ever seen, sparking imagination and adventure among those taking part."

“We couldn’t hold such a huge, family-friendly initiative without the support of companies such as MSP Capital. They are one of our long-standing supporters and their help, as ever, is incredibly important.”


Founded in 1981, MSP Capital is a principal bridging and development lender offering funding solutions to property professionals up to £20 million.


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