CAMRA is not just for beer-drinkers!

Almost from its inception, CAMRA has taken a keen and active interest in Britain's other traditional long alcoholic drink: cider. And if you want to try the real thing - the sort that's made from pure apple juice and not artificially gassed up - where better to enjoy these delights of the orchard than in the county with such rich tradition?

Cider was originally produced by farmers to be drunk by the farm labour force during the following year, especially the busy times of hay-making and harvest. However, the demand grew and cider came to be sold to local pubs and cider merchants for re-sale in towns.

For 350 years cider Herefordshire has been the major player in cider-making in Britain, with many notable Herefordians playing their part in the development of the industry. Today, the cider makers range from the multinationally owned Bulmers to the smallest farm-based operation and Herefordshire ciders and perries continue to set the standards for the industry with many cider-makers attaining many awards. See below for a list of the county's cider-makers.

CAMRA and the Cider Drinker

The CAMRA Good Cider Guide (5th edition published October 2005) is an essential handbook containing an unrivalled listing of the nation's cider and perry producers, right down to the tiniest, and the best places to buy what they make. It also includes articles by noted cider-makers and other experts to add to your enjoyment of the miller’s art.

CAMRA campaigns for cider

CAMRA has a specialist cider and perry committee through which actively promotes the interests of everybody who enjoys good cider and perry. Its objectives and achievements can be seen by on the cider and perry pages of the National CAMRA Website.

CAMRA and the Cider Drinker

CAMRA presents The Pomona Award annually to an individual or organisation making a major contribution to the cider and perry industry. This award has come to Herefordshire several times in recent years, notably to Dunkertons Cider in 2005, The Big Apple in 2007 and Mike Johnson of the Ross-on-Wye Cider company in 2009.

Try visiting the Big Apple, when the parishes of the Marcle Ridge celebrate their heritage of apples and pears, cider and perry, or the perhaps the Cider Museum in Hereford which is open all year.

CAMRA sells great cider

Virtually every CAMRA Beer Festival these days sells a range of tasty traditional ciders. Our own Beer on the Wye features cider or perry from almost every maker in the county, with over 70 different on offer in 2010.

What is Pear Cider?

There's really no such thing – it's just a stupid name invented for perry by marketing whiz-kids. It will only normally be found applied to pasteurised and fizzy bottled perry. If you want the real thing watch out for perry under its old – and correct – name.

HEREFORDSHIRE CIDER AND PERRY MAKERS
Amazing Cider Company	Hall Court, Kynaston, Ledbury, HR8 2PD	(01531) 660605		Draught cider and bottles, open 10am-5pm 7 days, but please ring to confirm.
Ashgrove Orchards	(Agent) Mayfield's Brewery 8 Croft Business Park, Leominster, HR6 0QF	(01568) 611197		Draught cider and bottles. Shop open Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, other days by appointment only.
Brook Farm Cider	Brook Farm, Wigmore, Leominster, HR6 9UJ	(01568) 770562		Bottled (pasteurised) and draught cider and Perry, visitors welcome by appointment only.
Butford Organics	Butford Farm, Bowley Lane, Bodenham, Hereford, HR1 3LG	(01568) 797195		Draught cider and perry, bottled still and bottle-fermented cider. Tours and woodland walk by arrangement; shop open Fri-Sun & bank holidays 10am-5pm, or by arrangement. Closed Jan-Mar.
Carey Organics	Whitethorn Farm, Carey, Hereford, HR2 6NG	(01432) 840959 & 07831 277623		Draught and bottled cider and apple juice. Farm shop Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm; wholesale by arrangement.
Checkley Brook Cyder	Checkley, Hereford, HR1 4ND	07886 720505		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Cider Museum & King Offa Distillery	1 Ryelands Street, Hereford, HR4 0LW	(01432) 354207		Cider liqueur and brandy. November-March 11am-3pm, April-October 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays excluding bank holidays and cider making festival weekend. Last admission to museum one hour before closing. Charges apply.
Crown Inn	Woolhope, Hereford, HR1 4QP	(01432) 860468		Draught cider and bag-in-box, bottled cider and perry sold in the pub.
Dewchurch Cider	Hill Farm, Much Dewchurch, Hereford, HR2 8DG	(01981) 540247		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Dunkerton's Cider Company	Luntley, Pembridge, Leominster, HR6 9ED	(01544) 388653		Draught and bottled organic cider and perry. Visitors welcome. Shop open Mon-Sat all year 10am-5pm (except Xmas & New Year)
Gillow Cider	Gillow Manor, St Owen's Cross, Hereford, HR2 8LE	(01989) 730312		Draught and bottled cider, wholesale only.
Gregg's Pit Cider & Perry	Gregg's Pit, Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2NL	(01531) 660687		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only. Open to the public for tasting and orchard tours/walks 10.30-18.00 at weekends May-October by appointment.
Gryfter Cyder	3 Wellbeck Avenue, Tupsley, Hereford, HR1 1NG	07801 282317		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Gwatkin Cider Co.	Moorhampton Farm, Abbey Dore, Hereford, HR2 0AL	(01981) 550258		Draught and bottled cider and perry. Farm shop 10am-6pm daily.
Henney's Cider Company	Lesblanquettes, Bishops Frome, Malvern, WR6 5AP	(01885) 490800		Wholesale only.
Hereford Bull Cider	Dinedor Court Farm, Dinedor, Hereford, HR2 6LG	(01432) 870967		Bottled Cider, wholesale only.
Jean's	Kitties Cottage, Lyne Down, Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2NT	(01531) 660691		Draught cider, wholesale only.
Knight's Cider	Crumpton Oaks Farm, Storridge, Malvern, WR13 5HP	(01684) 574594		Draught and bottled ( pasteurised) cider. Shop open Saturday and Sundays all year, 10.30am-5pm.
Ledbury Cider & Perry Co	Old Kennels Farm, Bromyard Road, Ledbury, HR8 1LG	01531 635024		Bottled cider, wholesale only.
Little Cider Press Company	Coldmoor Cottage, Putley, Ledbury, HR8 2RD	(01531) 670713		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Lyne Down Cider & Perry	Cider Barn, Lyne Down, Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2NT	07756 108501		Sales only by telephone or mail-order, using online form.
Malvern Magic	5 Tinkers Corner, Coddington, Ledbury, HR8 1HZ	07771 904127		Draught cider and perry. Visitors welcome, but no direct sales at present. Bottled products are expected to be available from 2012.
Marches Cyder Company	Croft Cottage, Lucton, Leominster, HR6 9PG			Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Newton Court Cidery	Newton Court, Leominster, HR6 0PF	(01568) 611721		Draught and bottled cider, and perry including naturally-sparkling/bottle-fermented. Shop open all year, daily 8am-6pm (Sundays 10am-1pm.)
Old Grove Farm Cider & Wines	Lower Eggleton, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2UL	(01531) 670019		Bottled cider, sold online and via local shops.
Oliver's Cider & Perry	The Old Hop Kilns, Moorhouse Farm, Ocle Pychard, Hereford, HR1 3QZ	07768 732026		Draught and bottled cider and perry. Shop Sat 10am-4pm, other times by arrangement only.
Once Upon A Tree	Dragon Orchard, Putley, Ledbury, HR8 2RG	(01531) 670263		Draught Cider, bottled cider and perry. Free tastings. Shop open Weds-Sun 10am-3pm.
Orgasmic Cider	Great Parton, Eardisley, Hereford, HR3 6NX	(01544) 327244 or 07773 037448		Draught and bottled cider and perry, shop open Sat 11am-5pm April-December, ring other times for appointment.
Rathays Cider & Perry	Rathays, Sutton St. Nicholas, Hereford, HR1 3AY	(01432) 880936		Draught ciders and perries, single varieties and blends. Wholesale only.
Ross-On-Wye Cider & Perry Co	Broome Farm, Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6QG	(01989) 567232		Also known as Broome Farm Cider. Draught and bottled cider and perry, visitors welcome to cider cellar: 10am-6pm in summer, 2pm-6pm in winter. Self-guided orchard walks, plus meet the Alpacas.
Sarah's Cider	Temple Court, Bosbury, Ledbury, HR8 1HA	07813 796053		Draught cider wholesale only. Tours available by arrangement.
Snailsbank Cider	The Major's Arms, Halmonds Frome, Malvern, WR6 5AX	(01531) 641780		Draught cider by appointment only.
Springherne	Springherne, Bulls Hill, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 5FD	07710 449320		Draught cider and perry, wholesale only.
Swallowfields		(01989) 567232		Draught and bottled cider and perry, wholesale only.
Tidnor Wood Orchard Cyder Co	Durlow Common, Eastwood, Tarrington, Hereford, HR1 4JQ	(01369) 840360		Bottled cider, wholesale only.
Upper House Farm	Upper House Farm, Wormelow, Hereford, HR2 8EL	(01981) 541246
H. Weston & Sons Ltd	The Bounds, Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2NQ	(01531) 660108		Open all year round Mon-Fri 9am-4.30 pm, 6pm Fridays May-Sept; Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm. Tours: adults £7.50, child £4, family £20. Shire horse dray or tractor rides. Ring for details.
Locations of many of these can be found at the Cider Route Website