insideKENT Magazine Issue 54 - September 2016 | Page 16

NEWS

SHEPHERD NEAME HONOURED
WITH SEVEN BREWING AWARDS

AA ROSETTE FOR
HYTHE IMPERIAL RESTAURANT

Denise Vas (centre) and the Coast restaurant team proudly display their AA rosette award

The team at the Hythe Imperial Hotel is celebrating after its Coast restaurant
became one of the few in the country to be awarded a coveted AA rosette.
Nationwide, just 10% of hotels and restaurants can boast one or more AA
rosettes, which the AA says shows they have achieved standards that stand
out in their local area.
Rosettes are awarded after one or more visits by inspectors, and the AA
states that a rosette means: “The restaurant serves food prepared with
care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients, and guests
can eat in with confidence and a sense of anticipation.”
The AA inspection also confirmed the Hythe Imperial’s continued rating as
a 4-star hotel, the report on the visit reading: “In terms of the AA Quality
Standards, this was a positive visit to the Hythe Imperial resulting in a
continued recommendation for a 4-star hotel classification with an increased
AA Merit Score of 77%.”
Denise Vas, general manager of the hotel, said: “The award of an AA rosette
to Coast is a real reward for some very hard work on the part of our head
chef John Bingley and his kitchen team. John took over the kitchen eight
months ago, recruited a whole new team and has revamped the menu
using locally-sourced produce in that time, so the award of the rosette is
a great achievement.”

AWARD-WINNING RAZZAMATAZ
OFFERING FREE TASTER SESSIONS
To celebrate another exciting
year at Razzamataz Maidstone,
they are offering free taster
sessions. Razzamataz
Maidstone launched in
September 2011 and has
grown from strength to strength. The School was delighted to be awarded
Franchise of the Year in February 2014; Brand Ambassadors of the Year
in February 2013; Best New Business in Medway & Maidstone in 2012;
and Best New Franchise in 2011. These national accolades are all testament
to the hard work, passion, enthusiasm and dedication of both the students
and teaching team.

Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, has been honoured with seven
top brewing awards. The Faversham-based brewery’s Classic Collection India
Pale Ale won a silver award in the India Pale Ale (5.5% to 7.4% ABV)
category of the British Bottlers’ Institute (BBI) competition. Its Classic
Collection Double Stout also won the Diploma – equivalent to bronze – in
the Stouts, Porters or Dark Ales category, and Asahi Super Dry won the
Diploma in the Lagers category. The medals and certificates will be presented
at the annual BBI dinner being held in London on 3rd November.
Shepherd Neame was also recognised with four medals in the International
Beer Challenge Awards, announced on Friday, August 12. Whitstable Bay
Blonde received Bronze in the Lagers category; Classic Collection Double
Stout received Bronze in the Stouts and Porters category; and 1698 and
Classic Collection India Pale Ale received Bronze in the Ales category.

The theatre school is the ideal place for children aged 4–18 who are
interested in dance, drama and singing. Their students have been lucky
enough to appear on Cbeebies, perform in the West End and train with
Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity. Limited places available for free taster
sessions, please call Charlotte Cotter on 07496 383355 / 01622 322817
to book a free taster session and for more information.

Head brewer Richard Frost said: “We are delighted to have been recognised
at a national and international level for our beers. We are passionate about
brewing, and it is great to see our efforts celebrated by industry experts.”

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