The Heritage is Sheppey’s First Micro-pub. It offers mainly Kent real ales, Kentish cider and wines as well as soft drinks, coffee, tea and pre-packed snacks. It does not serve spirits, lager or food whilst TV, juke box, gaming machines, pool tables and mobile phones are not allowed.
Instead, the establishment promotes conversation. Regular outings are arranged for its patrons and it also hosts acoustic jam nights and quizzes and supports local young musical talent.
The Heritage also supports the Swale Youth Development Fund and the Sheerness Dockyard Church Preservation Trust and it has raised more than £1,000 for each in the 17 months it has been open.
The formula has proved a success as it now has more than 80 regular customers. It’s target market is people seeking an alternative to the entertainment and sports eateries that pubs offer.
Owners Margaret and Melvin Hopper, who work full time, also employ four part-time employees who are trained in their ethos of a warm welcome, hygiene, and good working practices.
They began with the germ of an idea and a formula that they were confident in, however, a pub selling no spirits and no lagers or food, without pool tables, TV or music, they felt was a product that needed seeds to be sewn before it opened. The owners decided three months before opening they would not spend anything on advertising but instead use social media to build interest.
The strategy worked as there was a crowd waiting outside when the doors opened on January 24th 2014. It recently held a successful beer festival, with more than 44 ales from all over Britain, which brought even more customers through the door to try real ale. To build on the success, the Hoppers are seeking another premises where the micropub concept could take off.
The owners say what makes the business stand out is the warm welcome customers receive, competitive prices and congenial atmosphere which means you may enter a stranger but leave having made new friends.
The Heritage
19 Minster Road,
Minster On Sea,
Sheerness,
Kent. ME12 3JE.