Cider & Perry Events 2009

Cider Festivals, Apple Days and Wassailing

This is a regularly updated list of events of interest to cider and perry aficionados. Most are Cider Festivals (and Beer Festivals with cider offered), but there are various other events also included such as wassailing (January only, of course), Apple Days and the like. If you know of anything we have missed, please get in touch and let us know!

October | November | December | 2010 onwards

October 2009

Saturday 17th October 2009 - A Celebration of the Best of the West! at Dyrham Village Hall, Dyrham, South Gloucestershire SN14 8.
Opening times: 7.30pm
Details
:
Advanced tickets only - £7.50; available from Jay (James Beese) on 07841 187212 or Jamie on 07946 556948. A proper West Country Disco, BBQ with West Country meat, licenced bar with selection of West Country ciders. Live entertainment from The Mangledwurzels.

Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th October 2009 - Steam Pressing Weekend at New Forest Cider, Littlemead, Pound Lane, Burley, Hants.
Opening times: 11am - 4.30pm
Admission: £1.00; children free
Details
:
Barry Topp has invited Golly of the The Plonkers Agricultural Orchestra to play at the New Forest Cider steam cider press open day. Demonstrations during this 2-day event include a steam driven cider press, hurdle makers, wood turning and its all going be plonkerised, as Golly The Plonker will appearing live (providing he doesn't have too much cider). For more details please check the New Forest Cider website.

Saturday 17th October to Saturday 21st November 2009 - IAMCIDER - A photographic exhibition by Bill Bradshaw at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Abbey Farm, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DB (01458 831197)
Opening times: 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Free
Details
: This exhibition is a personal collection of images captured "strictly off duty”. From annual wassails and apple days to the faces (and hands) of cidermakers, IAMCIDER is contemporary, honest, familiar and passionate. It explores Somerset’s legendary cider heritage, its unmistakable landscape, its people and traditions. For more information please contact: Mary Gryspeerdt 01458 831197 or Bill Bradshaw 07957 195 699 info@billbradshaw.co.uk www.billbradshaw.co.uk

Tuesday, 21st October 2009 - APPLE DAY
Details
: Many events countrywide will be held during the nearest weekends of the 18th & 19th and 25th & 26th. For programme send SAE to Common Ground, Gold Hill House, 21, High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JE; tel. 01747 850820; wwwebsite: www.commonground.org.uk.
Are YOU holding an Apple Day Event in 2008? Contact Kate O'Farrell kate.ofarrell[at]commonground.org.uk to tell us about it.

Saturday 24th October 2009 - Apple Day at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR (0121 454 1860)
Opening times: 10.00am - 4.30pm
Admission: Special reduced entry price.
Details
: see website for details.

Sunday 8th November 2009 - Beer and Cider Day at Hereford Racecourse, Roman Road, Holmer, Hereford, HR4 9QU (01432 273560)
Opening times: see website for details
Admission:
see website for details
Details
: Enjoy Sunday afternoon with friends and a few drinks, then have a go at the renowned Wife carrying Competition sponsored by Wye Valley Brewery to be in with a chance of winning your weight in beer!

Friday 16th to Sunday 17th October 2009 - 2nd Thanet CAMRA Festival at The Churchill Tavern, 9-22 The Paragon, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 9JX
Opening times: Friday: 5-11pm, Saturday: noon–11pm
Admission: £1.00; free to card carrying CAMRA members.
Details
: The only CAMRA approved festival devoted to cider and perry being held in CAMRA's October cider month with over 50 ciders and perries from around the UK; the biggest selection of ciders and perries ever seen at a Kent festival. Cider-related food will be available and entertainment will be on offer on Saturday evening.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2009 - Cider Making Weekend at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Abbey Farm, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DB (01458 831197)
Opening times: 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Free
Details
: Traditional cider making in the Abbey Barn using a vintage mill and press and apples from the museum's orchard.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2009 - Cider Making Weekend at The Cider Museum, 21 Ryelands Street, Hereford HR4 0LW (01432 354207)
Opening times: standard opening hours
Admission: Free
Details
: Loads of events going on including
Demonstrations of Traditional Cidermaking by Master cidermaker Ralph Owen, and Display of Cider Apples with such names as Cider Lady’s Finger, Slack-ma-Girdle, Brown Snout and Bloody Turk!; Blacksmith Demonstrations with Aaron Heath will be giving demonstrations throughout the weekend; the collection of 18th Century Glass engraved cider glasses and elegant Meissen figurines; Tutored Cider Tastings from Master Cidermakers on both days; Beekeeping Exhibition and advice with live bees and candle-rolling; Morris Dancing with The Leominster Morris. Other Attractions include RSPCA on Animal care, advice and rehoming; Free samples of local ciders and distillery products - Hereford Cider Brandy, Apple Aperitif and Cider Liqueur; Games and competitions for all the family; Craft stalls; Children's activities including apple pressing, candle rolling, and Tour the Museum taking a walk through original cider cellars.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2009 - Sawbridgeworth Beer Festival, Memorial Hall, Forebury, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9BD
Opening times: 11am - 11pm
Admission: Free
Details
: Over 30 beers and ciders.


Monday 23rd & Saturday 24th October 2009 - Norwich Beer Festival at St Andrews & Blackfriars Hall, St Andrews Road, Norwich NR3 1AU
Opening times: Monday 5.30-11pm, Tueday-Thursday 11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Friday 11.30am-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Saturday 11.30am-3pm & 6.30-11pm
Admission: Lunchtime: Tuesday-Thursday £1.00, Friday & Saturday £1.50, Evenings: Monday & Tuesday £3:00, Wednesday & Thursday £4:00, Friday & Saturday £5:00. CAMRA Members Free at all times.
Details
: Over 25 Ciders and Perries (E.Anglia Cider & Perry Comp held here); Bottled beers, plus draught foreign beer from mainland Europe.

Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th October 2009 - 29th Stoke Beer Festival, Kings Hall, Stoke On Trent
Opening times: 11am-3pm; 6pm-11pm (exc Wednesday 2pm-5pm (trade session) and 6pm-11pm)
Admission: Wednesday: daytime Trade Invitation only; evening £5.00; CAMRA Members £3.00. Thursday & Friday: daytime free; evening evening £5.00; CAMRA Members £3.00. Saturday: daytime £2.00; CAMRA Members free; evening evening £5.00; CAMRA Members £3.00.
Details
: Over 200 beers from UK, bottled beers from around the world. Ciders and Perry, also traditional Country Wines. Entertainment on evening, and both sessions on Saturday.

Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October 2009 - 22nd Swindon Beerex, Steam Museum, Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire
Opening times: Thursday 6pm-11pm; Friday 12-3.30pm + 6pm-11pm. Saturday 12-8pm
Admission: Thursday £3.00; Friday £2.00 daytime; £4.00 evening; Saturday £2.00.
Details:
Over 70 beers and a selection of ciders. Restricted choice from Saturday lunchtime, come early to avoid disappointment. Admission including souvenir glass and free pint for CAMRA members. All sessions have food available, music on Saturday afternoon. Friday evening, tickets only available in advance, other sessions payment on door. Tickets on sale from: Beehive, 55 Prospect Hill, Swindon; Check Inn, 79 Woodland View, North Wroughton; The Glue Pot, Emlyn Square, Swindon. Postal applications (include sae) to Kevin Galton, 124 Okus Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 4JP.

Saturday 31st October 2009 - Pumpkin Cider Festival at The Bell Inn, Buckland Dinham, Frome, Somerset BA11 2QT (01373 462 956)
Opening times: noon - midnight
Admission: £5.00 only available in advance on a first come first served basis - include your first drink and a subsidised Hog Roast
Details
: Over 50 ciders and a guest beer, Hobgoblin, along with a Hog Roast, Fire Pits, Apple Bobbing and a huge array of hand carved pumpkins to light it all up. Live Music. Free Parking.

November 2009

Saturday 17th October to Saturday 21st November 2009 - IAMCIDER - A photographic exhibition by Bill Bradshaw at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Abbey Farm, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DB (01458 831197)
Opening times: 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Free
Details
: This exhibition is a personal collection of images captured "strictly off duty”. From annual wassails and apple days to the faces (and hands) of cidermakers, IAMCIDER is contemporary, honest, familiar and passionate. It explores Somerset’s legendary cider heritage, its unmistakable landscape, its people and traditions. For more information please contact: Mary Gryspeerdt 01458 831197 or Bill Bradshaw 07957 195 699 info@billbradshaw.co.uk www.billbradshaw.co.uk

Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th November 2009 - 19th Wakefield Beer Festival, Light Waves Leisure Centre, Wakefield
Opening times: Thursday: 6pm-11pm (5pm for CAMRA membrts); Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm.
Admission: £4.00 all sessions. Tickets includes non-refundable souvenir glass and programme. Card-carrying CAMRA members free all times.
Details
: Over 120 cooled Real Ales, cider, perry, fruit wines, foreign/British bottled beers. Souvenir Glasses £2.00 (Old Festival glasses £1.00 to hire). Cold snacks available atall sessions. CAMRA products, Tombola and other stalls.
Tickets for non-members on sale early September; send SAE + cheque (payable to: ‘Wakefield CAMRA') to: Mark Goodair, 7 Rayner St, Horbury Wakefield WF4 5BD. Mobile 07722142734. Tickets always available on door.

Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November 2009 - Medway Beer Festival, Stanlet Ballroom, Gundulph Street, Chatham, Kent
Opening times: Friday 4pm-11pm; Saturday & Sunday 11am-11pm
Admission: £4.00 including glass; £3.00 for CAMRA members
Details
: Over 120 real ales,
West Country ciders and bottled Belgian beers. Hot food and live entertainment.

Friday 13th & Saturday 14th November 2009 - 16th Woking Beer Festival, Woking Park, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9BA (01483 771122 / 01483 720103)
Opening times: Friday 6pm-11pm, Saturday 11am-3.30pm and 6pm-11pm
Admission: £7.00 advance tickets only
Details
:Over 70 real ales plus ciders and imported beers. Food and live entertainment, including the famous Wurlitzer Organ. Limited admission by ticket only including souvenir pint glass and programme. Over 18s only. Tickets available from Credit Card Hotline 01483-771122, 8am-9pm, 7 days a week, or by post from Woking Leisure Centre, Woking Park, Kingfield Rd, Woking, Surrey GU22 9BA. Cheques payable to “Woking Borough Council” (include a SAE please). Free pint in festival for card carrying CAMRA members.

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th November 2009 - Winter Beer Festival, South Western Arms, St. Denys, Southampton SO17 2HW
Opening times: normal pub opening hours
Admission: free
Details
: There will be a range of over 30 different real ales, with 2-3 real ciders and a real perry. Hot food (pasties and sausage rolls) will be served.

Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st November 2009 - 15th Watford Beer Festival, West Herts Sports Club, Park Avenue, Watford
Opening times: Thursday 4pm-11pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm
Admission: £2.00. Admission free to CAMRA/EBCU membs/West Herts Sports Club members.
Details
: Over 70 real ales, cider & perry. Food available 5-9pm Thursday, 12-3pm/5pm-9pm Friday & Saturday.

Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st November 2009 - 30th Rochford CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival, The Freight House, Bradley Way, Rochford, Essex SS4 1BU
Opening times
: Tue 5.30pm - 11pm; Wed/Thu 11.30am - 3pm and 5.30 - 11pm; Fri/Sat 11.30am - 11pm.
Admission: Free.
Details
: Over 200 Real Ales, over 35 Ciders, Foreign Beers and Specialised English Bottled Beer Bar. Food available at all sessions. A music-free festival.

Friday 20th to Saturday 21st November 2009 - Wantage Beer Festival, Masonic Hall, Alfred Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 8AN
Opening times: 11am-11pm
Admission: £3.00 / £2.00; £1.00 CAMRA members
Details
: Over 30 real ales, bottle conditioned beers, cider & perry. Hot and cold food available both days.

Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th November 2009 - Dudley Winter Ales Fayre, Dudley Concert Hall, St James Road, Dudley
Opening times: Thursday: 5.30pm-11pm; Friday: noon to 11pm; Saturday: noon to 11pm.
Admission:
see website for details

Details
: Over 75 real ales including winter beers, cider, wine and bottled beers. Hot and cold food available. Souvenir glass £2.00 including souvenir programme, fully refundable. Live entertainment.

December 2009

Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th December 2009 - Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival at Ocean, Mare Street, Hackney, London E8
Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday: noon-10.30pm; Friday & Saturday: noon-10pm
Admission:
see website for details
Details
: Over 100 Beers, Renowned Ciders, Bottled and Foreign Beer Bars.
Superb modern venue with ample seating. Choice of Food Stalls.

Wednesday 2nd to Saturday 5th December 2009 - 8th Harwich & Dovercourt Bay Winter Ale Festival at Kingsway Hall, Dovercourt, Essex
Opening times: Wednesday 7pm-11pm (preview evening); Thursday to Saturday 11am-11pm
Admission: see website for details
Details
: Over 45 real ales (emphasis on dark and seasonal brews), ciders and bottled continental beers. Souvenir half-pint tankards available. Live music Friday and Saturday evening. Food available at all sessions.

Friday 4th December 2009 - Christmas Gift and Food Fair at The Cider Museum, 21 Ryelands Street, Hereford HR4 0LW (01432 354207)
Opening times: 11am to 7pm
Admission: Free
Details
: Stalls – craft, food and festive, Floral Demonstrations, Music, Mulled Cider and Mince pies.

Sunday 6th December 2009 - Christmas at Weston's Cider, The Bounds, Much Marcle, Herefordshire HR8 2NQ
Opening times: 4pm
Admission: Free

Details: A traditional Christmas event for all the family. Festive foods and mulled coider for adults; apple juice for children (and drivers!), Christmas carols, lighting the Christmas tree - and the shop remaining open to allow you to buy those special Christmas gifts.

January 2010

Saturday 16th January 2010 - Charity Wassail at Rich's Farmhouse Cider, Mill Farm, Watchfield, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 4RD (01278 783651)
Opening times: 7.30pm
Admission: Details to be confirmed.

Details: On the real Twelfth Night come and join Scrumpy & Western band The Mangledwurzels to serenade the orchards of Rich's Cider Farm. Bar open 'til midnight. Run in association with the Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club; all profits go to charity.

Friday 29th & Saturday 30th January 2010 - 2nd Bristol Winter Cider Festival at Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH
Opening times: Friday 7.30pm-11.30pm; Saturday 11.00am-4pm & 7.30pm-11.30pm
Admission:
Tickets £6.50 in advance; £7.50 on the door. Any unsold tickets will be made available on the door - but buying your tickets in advance is highly recommended as this sold out last year. Tickets on sale from the Pavilion Box Office now.
Details: On offer will be over 100 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Ben Crossman's, Rich's, Thatchers, Broadoak and Heck's (Somerset), Weston's and Gwatkin (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig (Wales), and Mr. Whiteheads (Hampshire) - as well as hog roast rolls and cheese platters, and a range of soft drinks for the drivers.
As well as the cider and perry, the Bristol Cider Festival will offer the best in local entertainment. Somerset's premier Wurzels tribute band
The Mangledwurzels will be playing a full show at all three sessions, providing their own brand of Wurzels-flavoured, cider-fuelled Scrumpy & Western madness to help you drink up thy cider.

February 2010

Friday 12th & Saturday 13th February 2010 - 4th Bath Cider Festival at Bath Pavilion, North Parade, Bath, Somerset BA2 4EU (01225 330304)
Opening times: Friday 7.30pm-11.30pm; Saturday 11.00am-4pm & 7.30pm-11.30pm
Admission:
Tickets £6.50 in advance; £7.50 on the door. Any unsold tickets will be made available on the door - but buying your tickets in advance is highly recommended as this sold out last year. Tickets on sale from the Pavilion Box Office now.
Details: On offer will be over 100 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Ben Crossman's, Rich's, Thatchers, Broadoak and Heck's (Somerset), Weston's and Gwatkin (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig (Wales), and Mr. Whiteheads (Hampshire) - as well as hog roast rolls and cheese platters, and a range of soft drinks for the drivers.
As well as the cider and perry, the Bristol Cider Festival will offer the best in local entertainment. Somerset's premier Wurzels tribute band
The Mangledwurzels will be playing a full show at all three sessions, providing their own brand of Wurzels-flavoured, cider-fuelled Scrumpy & Western madness to help you drink up thy cider.

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

Friday 6th & Saturday 7th August 2010 - 3rd Bristol Cider Festival at Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH
Opening times: Friday 7.30pm-11.30pm; Saturday 11.00am-4pm & 7.30pm-11.30pm
Admission:
Tickets on sale later in the year.
Details
:
On offer will be over 100 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Ben Crossman's, Rich's, Thatchers, Broadoak and Heck's (Somerset), Weston's and Gwatkin (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig (Wales), and Mr. Whiteheads (Hampshire) - as well as hog roast rolls and cheese platters, and a range of soft drinks for the drivers.
As well as the cider and perry, the Bristol Cider Festival will offer the best in local entertainment. Somerset's premier Wurzels tribute band
The Mangledwurzels will be playing a full show at all three sessions, providing their own brand of Wurzels-flavoured, cider-fuelled Scrumpy & Western madness to help you drink up thy cider.

 
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