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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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March
2010
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April
2010
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May
2010
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June
2010
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July
2010
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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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