Although Hampshire is not thought of as a traditional cider making area these days, four thoroughly decent hard working souls have formed a little enterprise in a bid to rectify this. A mixture of publicans, cooks, know-it-alls and drunks now produce what they think is a damn fine cider using locally sourced apples (from The Blackmoor Estate) and nowt else except time and nature.

The company was initiated some years ago out of The Hawkley Inn. Landlord Al from Somerset, who very shortly joined forces with a local wine and cider maker, Angus. The popularity of Swamp Donkey grew at a steady rate (to local renown), and so when they found ourselves needing larger premises to play in, they teamed up with Barry and Anne Coe of The Jolly Drover in Hillbrow near Liss, who happened to have a jolly fine barn - now the home of the Swamp Donkey Cider Company.

The apples are all English varieties, a blend of mainly desert apples, giving Swamp Donkey a full and deep flavour, with an appealing aroma of the apples we use. The cider, which has a medium to dry taste with a strength of between 6 & 6.5%, is most distinctive because of the unusual blend.

To drink this nectar you will find it extensively in the Alton, Petersfield, Winchester and Farnham areas, many beer and cider festivals as well as Farmers Markets, local shops and Off Licences, and increasingly it is encroaching over the U.K. like a welcome rash!

The Old Granary, Inadown Farm, Newton Valence, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3RR

Please do not visit these premises without first telephoning.

Website and email address not working - possibly a godd chance that this company has ceased trading.

Swamp Donkey Cider