ARTISTRAW
Lydia & Tom Tibbits
Nr. Haye-on-Wye, Herefordshire
Eco-minded activist cidermakers, Lydia and Tom are new cidermakers on the UK scene. Their eye-catching designs and beautiful drinks look and taste great but also show the level of attention they put into the holistic whole of the operation. Designs are homemade, printed using homemade vegetable dyes (from their garden), and even the glue is made from upcycled corn starch packaging.
BUTFORD ORGANICS
Martin Harris
Bowdenham, Herefordshire
Adhering to a strict no-sulphite, low-intervention production routine Martin continues a long line of Herefordshire cider and perry production in his 300 year old cider mill. A rarity in that they make the only certified organic bottle-conditioned natural perry in the country!
FIND & FOSTER
Polly & Matt Hilton
Huxham, Devon
Working with local farmers to revitalise lost and moribund Devonian orchards Polly and Matt Hilton make some of the finest ciders in the country. Their aim is to preserve the heritage of Devon cider-making through using near-extinct varieties of apple in a range of high quality sparkling ciders that showcase the terroir of the orchards they manage whilst trying to promote biodiversity.
GOULD
Grampound, Cornwall
A biochemist by profession, Jonathan started a trial orchard in the 3 acre field behind his home in 2014 to test suitable Breton, Norman, Somerset and Cornish varieties for the changing Cornish climate. With over 80 varieties trialled the orchard is now in organic conversion and recognized nationally as a site of priority habitat; truly a veritable garden of Eden! The perries and ciders he makes are clean, beautifully fresh and reminiscent of a more Breton style than the usual Cornish fare.
GREGG'S PIT
James Marsden
Much Marcle, Herefordshire
Having renovated the derelict orchards and cottage of Greggs Pit in the early 1990s, James started making traditional Herefordshire Perry and Cider restoring the heritage of cider-making to a site that stretches back to 1785. Now operating under the PGI status they release a range of true bottle-conditioned single- variety and blended Perrys and Ciders - one or two of which will include their own Greggs Pit Perry pear variety.
IVOR
Andrew Freeman
Nr. Kidderminster, Worcestershire
New cidermaker on the scene, Andrew has been perfecting his methods over the last few years and is now in a position to release his drinks for the rest of us to enjoy. Working organically (not certified) to restore his 100 year old orchard with new plantings his ciders take a different path to most tri-county styles utilising cooking and eating apples for brisk zingy acidity and easy-drinking refreshment. All ciders are sulphite-addition-free.
SMITH HAYNE
Will & Anna Chambers
Cheriton Fitzpaine, Devon
A small family-run enterprise bringing traditional cider-making back to their 12 acre farm in mid-Devon. Smith Hayne farm dates back to the 1300s but the orchards had been lost over the years (as is all too common in the SW) and replanted in the 1970s. Following their first vintage release in 2017 Will & Anna only make around 3000 bottles a year - so this is truly small-batch production.
WILDING
Becky & Sam Leach
Failand, Somerset
Trailblazer ‘natural’ cider-makers, Beccy and Sam Leach ran the successful restaurant Birch in Bristol before founding Wilding Cider. They are now full-time farmers and cider-makers using traditional techniques and absolutely no added sulphites in their ciders to showcase a wide range of old varieties of Somerset cider apples.
