Cider Producers
From tiny orchards making farmhouse 'scrumpy', large commercial operations producing a smooth refined drink, to the delicious Apple Brandy and the huge variety of refreshingly cool Apple Juices available - there has always been a strong association between Somerset and apples!
Many of the orchards are attractions in their own right so make a little time to explore. Choose either cider producers or apple juice producers.
Cider Producers
Bollhayes Cider
Vigo Ltd
Dunkerswell Airfield
Dunkerswell.
Phone firstTel: 01404 590262.
Award winning Bottle Fermented Cider. Supreme champion at Bath & West Show 2006 for draft cider and bottle fermented cider.
Bridge Farm Cider
Nigel Stewart
Bridge Farm
East Chinnock
Nr Yeovil
BA22 9EA
Tel: 01935 862387
email: bridgefarmcider@tiscali.co.uk
Nigel has been making cider since 1986, first at Sandford Orcas in Dorset and now at East Chinnock. All the apples are local and harvested by himself. His Traditional Farmhouse Cider often wins prizes. He also produces Bottle Fermented Sparkling Cider and a range of single variety Apple Juices (many different varieties of apple and pear juice). Also on sale: cider, fruit cakes, chutney, jam and Heritage potatoes.
Directions: On the north side of the A30 west of East Chinnock. Look out for an orchard as you leave the village.
Open: May-Sept 7 days a week 10.30am-6.30pm. Rest of year Fri, Sat and Sun only, or by appointment.
Broadlands Farm Shop and Garden Centre
Jim Thompson
Box Road
Bathford
BA1 7LR
Tel: 01225 859780
Cider, Perry and Apple Juice: Russet, Cox and Bramley. Garden centre.
Directions: 1 mile east of Bath on A4.
Open: Tues-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-6pm.
Burrow Hill Cider
Julian Temperley
Pass Vale Farm
Burrow Hill
Kingsbury Episcopi
Nr Martock
TA12 6BU
Tel: 01460 240782
Fax: 01460 249220
email:apples@ciderbrandy.co.uk
website: www.ciderbrandy.co.uk
Burrow Hill has been a cider farm for 150 years and Julian Temperley has been running it for the last 35 years. In 1984 he won the 'Triple Crown', winning cider competitions in Hereford, Devon and Somerset. The cider is pressed from 40 different varieties of cider apple and the farm owns 150 acres of orchard.Apart from traditional farmhouse cider, Julian makes two exceptional bottle fermented sparkling ciders.
The cider is matured on its yeast for a year and then disgorged by freezing the ends of the bottles. This so called 'Champagne Method' was pioneered in Hereford in 1632 by Lord Scudamore before the Civil War and had reached Montacute House in Somerset by 1664, long before the French even claim to have invented the method... Old cider house, huge vats, barrels, farm animals.
Single Variety Bottle Fermented Sparkling Cider: Kingston Black and Stoke Red. Dry and Medium Farmhouse Ciders & Cider Vinegar, Apple Juice: Russet, Cox and Bramley.
Directions: Follow brown signs from Kingsbury Episcopi.
Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm all year. Orchard trail & toilets.
Cheddar Scrumpy Firkin Strong TM
The Original Cheddar Cheese Company
The Gorge
Cheddar
BS27 3QE
Tel: 01934 743113
website: www.originalcheddar.co.uk
Cider Farm
Ian Gibson
Dobunni Farm
Brean Road
Lympsham
Tel: 01278 751401
Cider, Apple Juice, veg and soft fruit.
Directions: Between Berrow and Brent Knoll, the farm is on a sharp bend on the Brean road.
Open: All year except January 9am-6pm.
Crossman's Prime Farmhouse Cider
Ben Crossman
Mayfield Farm
Hewish
Weston super Mare
BS24 6RQ
Tel: 01934 833174
Mobile: 07770 531621
Good clean traditional farmhouse cider served from oak barrels. Dry, Medium and Sweet. Working farm with farm shop serving free-range eggs, and cider.
Directions: Leave the M5 at Junction 21, then take the A370 towards Bristol. Mayfield Farm is on the right after about one mile.
Open: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm.
Hecks Traditional Farmhouse Cider
John, Mary, Andrew and Chris Hecks
9-11 Middle Leigh
Street
BA16 0LB
Tel: 01458 442367
email: andrew@hecksfarmhouse.co.uk
website: www.hecksfarmhouse.co.uk
The Hecks family has been making cider for six generations, since 1840. The award winning farmhouse cider is fermented in wooden barrels and sold draught from the wood. They have specialised in bottling Single Variety Cider and Perry. Apple Juice: Torside Apple Juice - at least a dozen different varieties. Their shop sells fruit and veg, local cheddar cheese, cider mugs and cider jars.
Directions: In the middle of Street with signs from High St or Somerton Road.
Open: 9am-6pm each weekday. Sat 9am-5.30 pm, Sun 10am-12.30pm. Group tours welcome. Coaches welcome by appointment.
Henry's Farmhouse Scrumpy
Dawn Pring
Tanpits Cider Farm
Dyers Lane
Bathpool
Taunton
TA2 8BZ
Tel: 01823 270663
Cider making was started here in 1912 by Henry's grandfather. The yard is filled with old cider making equipment and other farm machinery. The Farmhouse Cider is naturally fermented and served from oak barrels. With forty acres of cider orchard this is a very pleasant camping site. Just at the bottom of the lane is the idyllic Taunton Canal. The Tacchi Morris Arts Centre is just up the road.
Directions: Off the M5 at Junction 25. Then follow the A38 north for a mile or two and turn left. Follow the brown caravanning and camping signs.
Open: Mon-Sat 8.30-6pm. Local honey from the orchards is also available.
Mrs House Ashill Cider
Ashtons Farm
Ashill
Ilminster
TA19 9NT
Tel: 01823 480513
'Farmhouse cider producers.' In centre of Ashill opposite Ashill Inn
Open: Please telephone
Parsons's Choice Cider
Jeanette and Phil Dolding
Parsonage Farm
West Lyng
Nr Taunton
Tel: 01823 490978
Parson's Choice is a traditional Somerset Farmhouse Cider made on the Somerset Levels with pure cider apple juice from their own orchards. There is also a small farm shop which sells Apple Juice, jams, chutneys, tankards and gift baskets, oak barrels, terracotta pots, plants in season, compost & veg.
Directions: Parsonage Farm is situated between East and West Lyng on the A361 between Taunton and Street.
Open: 9am-6pm Mon-Sun all year.
Pennard Cider
Hugh Tripp
Avalon Vineyard
The Drove
East Pennard
Nr Shepton Mallet
BA4 6UA
Tel: 01749 860393
email: pennardorganicwines@mail.com
website: www.pennardorganicwines.co.uk
The cider is made organically on an old elm press, the pomace being pressed through oat straw. Organic Cider is available only in draught. Hugh also produces organic white wine and a wide range of fruit wines, as well as mead.
Directions: Come off the A37 at foot of Wraxall Hill. Go west for a mile and a half. Follow signs.
Open: 10am-6pm. Easter to Xmas. Bring a picnic and see the orchard.
Perry's Cider Farm
Perry Family Cider Mills
Dowlish Wake
Nr Ilminster
TA19 0NY
Tel: 01460 52681
website:www.perryscider.co.uk
Housed in a sixteenth century thatched barn this traditional and picturesque cider farm has been in business since 1920, although cider has always been made in the ancient barn. The apples used in cider making are from their own orchards and local farms.
The ancient art of cider making is still very much alive and cider is stored in wooden barrels. Their cider has won many awards over the years and the ciders now produced are of the highest quality, with a wide choice of draught and bottled ciders.Vintage cider: Dry, Medium and Sweet. Draught and Bottled. Special Single Variety Cider: Somerset Redstreak and Morgan Sweet. Apple juice. Free entry to the cider mills and countryside museum which houses a large collection of old farm wagons, machinery and tools. There is also a cider making video. Cider can be sampled in the shop which sells jams, chutneys, cheeses, country wines etc. Coaches welcome, with prior warning if possible. Car park & toilets.
Directions: 2 miles south of Ilminster. Follow the brown cart signs from Ilminster, Chard and Crewkerne.
Open: All year including Bank Holidays. Weekdays 9am-5.30pm. Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 10am-1pm.Closed Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Rich's Farmhouse Cider
Family run Mill Farm
Watchfield
Nr. Highbridge
TA9 4RD
Tel: 01278 783651
Fax : 01278 786651
email: jan@richscider.co.uk
website: www.richscider.co.uk
Famous in Ciderland for over 50 years. Sweet, Medium and Dry Cider. One of the giant oak vats called Gog holds 10,000 gallons another called Adge after Adge Cutler of the Wurzels holds 6,000 gallons, both brought down from Coates of Nailsea. Apple juice: Farm pressed. Also mature cheddar cheese, local chutney, cider mugs, clotted cream and framed prints. There is also a museum and a cidermaking video. The Cider Press Restaurant, opening in May, will serve a range of local produce.
Directions: 2 miles from M5 Junction 22. On the B3139 opposite the Watchfield Inn.
Open: All year Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm.
Sheppy's Cider Farm Centre
Sheppy's Cider Farm Centre
Louisa Sheppy
Three Bridges
Bradford-on-Tone
Nr Taunton
TA4 1ER
Tel: 01823 461233
Fax: 01823 461712
email: info@sheppyscider.com
website: www.sheppyscider.com
The Sheppy family runs a traditional cider farm, with over 200 years of cider making experience, producing a wide range of high quality draught and bottled ciders from apples grown at the family farm. Sheppy's ciders are all made from fresh-harvested fruit (no chilled fruit and no concentrate). Many of Sheppy's ciders have been winners of prestigious awards over the years, and their range includes Gold Medal Vintage, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, and Single Variety Ciders - Kingston Black, Dabinett, Taylor's Gold, Falstaff and Tremlett's Bitter.
Fifty-five acres of bush and traditional orchards are available for the public to walk in, including areas for picnics and a children's playground. Visitors can enjoy an excellent rural life museum and video of the cider maker's year. Samples can be tasted in the farm shop where cider and local produce can be bought. Licensed tea rooms open all year. All buildings suitable for disabled.
Tours for parties of 20 or more available by booking (please telephone)
Admission to site: Free
Admission to museum: £2.00 (adult), £1.75 (OAP), £1.50 (child)
Directions: The cider farm is situated on the south side of the A38 midway between Taunton and Wellington. Use M5 junctions 25 (through Taunton) or junction 26.
Open:
SHOP AND MUSEUM All year. Mon-Sat 8.30 am-6 pm (including Summer Bank Holidays),
Sun (all of July and August) 11 noon - 4 pm.
TEA ROOMS All year Mon-Sat 9.30 am - 4 pm and
Sundays 12 noon - 2 pm (for booked Sunday lunches only)
Thatchers Cider Company Ltd
John and Martin Thatcher
Myrtle Farm
Station Rd
Sandford
Winscombe
BS25 5RA
Tel: 01934 822862
Fax: 01934 822313
email: info@thatcherscider.co.uk
website: www.thatcherscider.co.uk
The Thatcher family has been associated with cider for almost 100 years. The fourth generation of William John Thatcher still makes cider at Myrtle Farm in Sandford, Somerset. Production first began in 1904 when the apples from the family farm were turned into cider which was sold locally. This is still true today, but local distribution has become nationwide due to the continued popularity of Thatchers ciders.
Much of the processing is still managed traditionally. Cider is allowed to mature in oak vats ensuring the full flavour of the apple is captured. Today, the production facilities at Thatchers are some of the most advanced in the cider industry, producing modern innovative ciders which are sold through mail order, retailers and our farm shop.
Directions: Exit J21 of M5. Sandford is on the A368.
Open: 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-1pm Sunday.
The Original Cider Company Ltd
Brian Brunt
The Cider Mill
Clutton Hill Farm
Clutton
BS39 5QQ
Tel: 01275 333154
The Original Cider Company Ltd is a large regional producer with a wide variety of brands including Broadoak, Dry, Medium & Sweet, Moonshine, Kingston Black, Strong Dry, Rustic Gold, Black Out, Red Oak, Mega White, Pheasant Plucker, Classic Gold and a Sparkling Perry. Draught, kegged and bottled, these have won several awards.
Directions: Come off the A39 at High Littlelton. Followsigns for Clutton Hill.
Open: Ring for details.
The Somerset Distillery
Julian Temperley
Pass Vale Farm
Burrow Hill
Kingsbury Episcopi
Nr Martock
TA12 6BU
Tel: 01460 240782
Fax: 01460 249220
email: apples@ciderbrandy.co.uk
website: www.ciderbrandy.co.uk
Somerset Cider Brandy evokes all the magic and mystery of the West Country. Over the years Julian Temperley has single handedly masterminded the revival of Somerset's monastic distilling traditions. Today his old French pre-war stills, Josephine & Fifi, produce copious quantities of apple spirit which is matured in oak barrels in a special spirit bond.
Internationally acclaimed, the Cider Brandy can be bought as a 5 Year old, and a 3 Year old, all bottled at 42% abv. Added to this is the highly successful Kingston Black Aperitif at 18% and the clear but delicious Eau de vie at 40%The digestive Pomme goes exceptionally well with Montgomery Cheddar. The two copper stills are on display at the farm. Conducted tours by arrangement. All products available by mail order, credit card hotline or website.
Directions: Follow brown signs from Kingsbury Episcopi.
Open:Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm all year. Orchard trail & toilets.
Torre Cider
Jill Gillman
Torre Farm
Washford
Nr Watchet
TA23 0LA
Tel: 01984 640004
email: torre-cider@freenet.co.uk
Website: www.torrecider.com
Cider on tap or bottled: Farmhouse, Medium, Dry and Sweet, Sheep Stagger & Tornado. Not just cider, but Gloucester Old Spot Pigs and pygmy goats. Large shop selling truckles of Cheddar cheese & Somerset Camembert, country wines, Exmoor honey, jams, pickles, jellies and mustard Apple juice a blend of Cox, Bramley and Russet.
Directions: Follow the brown signs from the A39 at Washford. Go past Cleeve Abbey, then take the Wiveliscombe road past the White Horse Inn.
Open: Daily March to October 10am-5pm, Nov-Feb 10am-4pm.
West Croft Cider
John Harris
West Croft Farm
Brent Knoll
Highbridge
TA9 4BE
Tel: 01278 760762/760259
John Harris has been making cider since 1992 but his grandfather made it here at the same farm with the same apples. He sells Janet's Jungle Juice, Dry, Medium and Morgan Sweet and has won many awards.
Directions: From Junction 22 on the M5, back up A38 then through Brent Knoll till you reach a bend and T junction, turn right into West Croft Farm.
Open: 10am-7pm, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year and Sunday afternoons in winter. A large Wassail takes always place on the third Saturday in January
West Monkton
Gary Lane
Overton
West Monkton
Nr Taunton
Tel: 01823 412345
Website: www.lanescider.co.uk
A combination of Lane's Cider and Kingston Vale Cider, Gary Lane produces Lane's Traditional Draught, Golden Rutter and Bonking Billy. He has 20 acres of orchard and has over 70 outlets in the Southwest.
Directions: West Monkton is just north of Taunton off the Bridgwater Road. Farm gate sales only by prior arrangement. Minimum 5 gallons. Wholesale direct to person. Please phone first.
Worley's Cider
No 55
Dean
Shepton Mallet
BA4 4SA
Tel: 07855 951718
E-mail: neil.worley@worleyscider.co.uk
Worley's Cider make traditional whole-juice Award-Winning Somerset Ciders from locally sourced cider apples using traditional techniques. What started as a hobby took on new life when we won a First Prize at Royal Bath & West of England Show. Always experimenting, our latest new development is a keeved Dabinett single-variety speciality cider. We supply several pubs and farm shops in the area.
Directions: Dean is a hamlet on the A361 between Shepton Mallet and Frome, near the village of Cranmore. Once you're in Dean, then you'll have to start looking!
Open: Call to make sure we're there.
