RESPONSIBLE RETAILING

Shepherd Neame is committed to operating pubs of high quality, which take their responsibility to their customers and communities seriously.

We believe a pub is a public amenity which should provide a friendly, safe environment for its customers.

The company has its own charter which sets high standards of practice for its licensees. In-house training for bar staff and licensees is provided extensively throughout the pub estate and exceeds British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) standards.

Your pub
The pub is often the heart of a community and Shepherd Neame supports efforts by its pubs to provide facilities for local organisations and entertainment for customers.

Fund raising is an important part of our pubs’ work; with licensees and customers raising thousands of pounds each year for local causes.

Environmental concerns
Shepherd Neame is committed to maintaining well presented pubs with attractive gardens.

High standards of hygiene and cleanliness are practiced at all times at our pubs. Customers may not smoke in dining and children’s rooms and air conditioning is fitted in all areas where smoking is permitted. The company has also implemented a strategy to deal with the smoking ban due in 2007.

Selling alcohol
As a member of the Portman Group – an organisation dedicated to promoting sensible drinking and preventing alcohol misuse – Shepherd Neame pubs adhere to a number of policies to ensure alcohol is served in the correct manner.

The company has voluntarily signed up to the Challenge 21 initiative, whereby those who look under the age of 21 are required to show proof of age. The company carries out random spot checks on its pubs to check they are conforming to the initiative.

Opening hours
Many Shepherd Neame pubs operate flexible opening hours in order to meet customer demand, however, the company and its licensees do not believe 24-hour opening is appropriate.

Crime, disorder and public nuisance
Shepherd Neame is dedicated to discouraging excessive drinking and so-called binge-drinking.

The company works hard to eliminate all manner of contraband from its pubs.
Utilising the wealth of experience of Shepherd Neame’s licensees, the company uses peer teaching in its in-house drugs awareness programme to help ensure its pubs remain safe from drugs and their associated problems.

Our licensees strive to minimise the impact their pubs have on their neighbours, in terms of noise and disturbance. They work hard to foster links with the community and many are members of Pub Watch programmes.