Shepherd Neame reopens The Duke of Cumberland after a £1.8m refurb

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has reopened The Duke of Cumberland in Whitstable after a £1.8m refurbishment. Dating back to 1867, the building has been completely refurbished inside and out, with care taken to retain and refurbish its original features – including a Grade II Listed bar – “while invigorating it with a contemporary and stylish feel”. According to Shepherd Neame, the 14-week renovation project to the pub, located in the centre of the coastal town, has been completed to the “highest standard” and features a “classic feel” of wood and leather and a beach-inspired colour scheme. In addition to a complete refurbishment of the bar and dining room, the pub’s courtyard garden has also undergone a transformation, with a new decking area and an outside kitchen. A new external function room, named The Boatyard, has also been created in the courtyard, which has its own bar and is available to book for private events. Additionally, the pub features eight boutique bedrooms and since Whitstable has long been famous for its oysters, each of the rooms is named after an historic oyster fishing vessel, known as a ‘yawl’ or ‘smack’, built in the town. Each room includes a pocket-sprung mattress, Drench shower and Nespresso coffee machine, along with a flat screen Smart TV and complimentary high speed WiFi. The pub’s menu features freshly caught seafood and dishes include whole grilled lemon sole served with seaweed butter, samphire and buttered Nichola potatoes, along with the classic Whitstable Bay beer battered haddock and chips served with pea purée – which is also available to takeaway. The menu also offers a range of new sharing platters, including the Hop Picker’s Board, drawing upon the pub’s Garden of England location, which features mushroom and walnut pate with sage butter, capers, hummus with harissa beans, charred cauliflower, toasted almonds with romesco sauce, halloumi fries, Kentish tomato relish, sourdough and butter. The pub also serves a range of puddings on offer including Clock House Farm strawberry and cherry Eton Mess using fresh Kentish fruit. The Duke of Cumberland also has an extensive range of drinks on offer, from Shepherd Neame’s craft ales and lagers to a selection of acclaimed English wines, along with premium Kentish spirits and cocktails. Tina Kennedy has been appointed as the pub’s new general manager. She brings a wealth of experience to the role as she moves from nearby Shepherd Neame pub The Royal at Tankerton, which she has run for the past six years. The pub was previously renowned for its live music events, and Kennedy, who frequented the pub as a teenager growing up in the area, plans to retain that tradition with regular jazz and swing nights at the pub, along with sunset acoustic evenings. She said: “It is a real honour to be asked to take on the Duke of Cumberland following this major transformation. It is fantastic to see Shepherd Neame making such a major investment in the town, and I’m excited about welcoming locals and visitors to see just what we have to offer here.” Jonathon Swaine, managing director, pubs, added: “We are incredibly proud to reopen The Duke of Cumberland after this extensive refurbishment project. “The renovation has been completed to a very high standard, and we hope that both locals and visitors to the town will enjoy seeing the amazing work which has been carried out to ensure such a much-loved pub continues to be a lively local for many years to come. It has also been a number of years since the pub’s rooms have been available for guests to stay in, and it has been a labour of love for Shepherd Neame to bring them back into use. We look forward to welcoming guests to enjoy a relaxing stay with us.”

Shepherd Neame reopens The Duke of Cumberland after a £1.8m refurb

A new external function room, named The Boatyard, has also been created in the courtyard, which has its own bar and is available to book for private events

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