The pubco has 1,800 managed pubs, restaurants and hotels and 1,150 tenanted and leased pubs within its portfolio, including Kerridge’s double Michelin-starred pub the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
In November last year, Greene King also worked with the chef to open its first joint-venture pub, the Butcher’s Tap, also in Marlow, a hybrid pub and butcher combination in the town alongside master butcher Andy Cook.
Greene King brewing and brands managing director Clive Chesser said: “The success of our partnership with Kerridge over many years has been largely due to our shared love of the great British pub and, of course, the exceptional quality and customer service that his businesses offer.
“We are thrilled to join forces as the official brewery partners of the 2018 festivals and will be showcasing our best-known beers alongside a specially created festival ale, exclusively for Pub in the Park.”
Fantastic festival setting
Kerridge lauded his partnership with the pubco and the announcement of it being the brewery partner for the festival.
He said: “I have successfully worked with Greene King for many years so I am delighted to announce them as the official brewery partners for Pub in the Park 2018.
“Together we plan to celebrate some of the best food, drink and music the UK has to offer in a fantastic festival setting.”
After the inaugural Pub in the Park festival in Marlow last year, which sold out all 18,000 tickets in 24 hours, three new sites have been announced for this year.
Included in the line up for this year are top chefs, pubs and chart-topping musicians such as Razorlight, KT Tunstall, Scouting for Girls and Melanie C.
Touring the country
The festival will now be coming to Bath, Tunbridge Wells and Knutsford in Cheshire. Kerridge and his fellow chefs will be visiting the four towns and he will be bringing his Michelin-starred pubs alongside a selection of other top UK pubs and restaurants to serve their most popular dishes.
Every event will celebrate the very best food the country has to offer along with live music, chef demonstrations, shopping and other festival fun.
Each event will also celebrate the local community in the form of local artisans, pubs, ‘foodie heroes’ and musicians.
At every event Greene King will be serving a range of beers, including Abbot Ale, Greene King IPA, East Coast IPA and a limited edition Pub in the Park ale.
Pub in the Park will be taking place on the following dates at the following venues:
- Higginson Park in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on 17 to 20 May
- Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Somerset, on 8 to 10 June
- Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 6 to 8 July
- The Heath in Knutsford, Cheshire, on 7 to 9 September