It’s Cider & Perry month! – What’s happening near you?

We are also supporting the inaugural Devon Apple Festival being put together by some of our local cider makers.
Some Festival events are included in the list below.
Events and dates across Devon will be regularly added as the festival gets closer so keep an eye on: Devon Apple Fest

Cider Month is celebrated in both May and October. Unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider and perry can only be made when the fruit is ripe and is tied to a natural cycle of the apple and pear trees found in orchards around the country. May was chosen because it is when the orchards come into bloom and fruit begins to set which will then be harvested. October is a very active time for cider makers when production is in full flow and most cider producers are harvesting the fruit.

The Tom Cobley Tavern does the Treble!

The Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, in Spreyton, Devon, has been crowned National Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2023 by the Campaign for Real Ale.

It’s been a busy year for the team at the Tom Cobley, winning branch Cider Pub of the Year in May, they then went on to win the regional award in the Summer. Now the Tom Cobley has been crowned National Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2023 thus giving them a fantastic treble achievement.
Listen to BBC John Acres interview
The award will come as no surprise to regulars and local CAMRA members as the pub offers a warm welcome to all and boasts at least
19 real ciders and two perries for the autumn/winter season all served at top quality and temperature; knowledgeable bar staff and comprehensive tasting notes.

Exeter & East Devon Branch Club of the Year and SW Regional Runner-Up
GWRSA Exmouth retained the Exeter & East Devon CAMRA Branch Club of the Year 2023 and then went on to be awarded runner up in the South West Regional Finals. They have recently upgraded their ciders and Sandford Orchards Devon Red and “The General” will be on offer for October’s Cider & Perry month.

They were presented with a certificate for their excellent showing from the CAMRA Regional Director Peter Bridle on Thursday 11th October. Congratulations to all the team at the club.

Sat 23rd and Sun 24th September
Courtney's of Whimple: The big pick: Courtney's Big Pick
Apple picking, pressing, food and bar! Grab a cider and a pasty, throw down a blanket and relax in the beautiful East Devon countryside and enjoy a picking and pressing experience with live music. Adults £6 per person, Under 16s £1, Under 2s FREE. (Please note: prices are per day and tickets are non-refundable).
Courtney's Cider Orchard, Southbrook Lane, Whimple EX5 2PD

Friday 29th September to Sunday 29th October
Lydford Gorge (National Trust) Autumn Apple Trail, 10am-3pm daily.
Free to NT members, normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Lydford Gorge Autumn Apple Trail

Saturday 30th September
Rull Orchard - Community pressing day. 11am-3pm.
Bring your apples and join with the pressing. Take home juice to drink or ferment into your very own cider. Cider sales available 4-6pm.
Rull Orchard, Northdown Road, Bickleigh, EX5 5LN.
Contact – ku.oc.drahcrollur@ekim

Saturday 30th September
Sampford Courtenay
Take your apples to Solland Farm any day the week before and they will create a very special parish cider to commemorate the 475th anniversary of the prayerbook rebellion. Solland Farm Solland Lane, Okehampton EX20 3QT

Saturday 30th September
Ashley Court, Tiverton
Open garden and Apple Pie contest 12.00-16.30
Apple Pie – Judging at 14.00.

Thurs 5th to Mon 16th October
Killerton Estate Orchard Fortnight (National Trust)
Learn how the Killerton team manage traditional orchards to reverse the decline in nature.
Follow an orchard trail, help to harvest apples for cider production, pick your own apples and
play apple games. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Killerton Estate Orchard Fortnight

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October
RHS Rosemoor Festival of Flavours.
Celebrate the bounty of autumn and the apple harvest at RHS Rosemoor.
There will be an array of heritage apples on show and you can get involved with apple identification, tasting and juicing. RHS Garden Admission applies. Free to RHS members and children under 5.
RHS Garden Rosemoor Great Torrington Devon EX38 8PH

Tues 10th to Thurs 12th October
Killerton Estate Guided walk and apple pressing demonstration (National Trust)
Join us for demonstrations of apple pressing and guided walk through a heritage orchard
and enjoy a special haven rich in biodiversity. Visit the old estate yard to see Killerton's
200-year-old apple press in action and learn about traditional Devon cider making.
Normal admission charges apply for the venue and additional event price: Adults £5 per person.
Killerton Guided Walk and Apple Pressing

Saturday 14th October – Sustainable Tiverton Community Apple Day
(booking link on website Sustainable Tiverton – The website of TACT, Tiverton Area Communities Transition)

Sat 14th - Sun 22nd October
11am - 4pm daily
Darts Farm Community Apple Drop 2023

Sunday 15th October
Cockington Court Apple Day
11am - 4pm with free entry to the public, see:
Cockington Court Apple Day 2023
Drop off your homegrown apples in return for an
allocation of our Darts Farm Community Blend Cider
in collaboration with Barny of Sandford Orchards.

Saturday 21st October
Alphington Apple Day.
Apple themed activities on Apple Day 2pm - 4pm. You can also pick apples on Sunday 1st October at West Town Farm or donate surplus apples on 30th September to the village hall. Alphington Village Hall. Contact – ku.gro.ice@bcnotgnihpla

Thursday 21st October
Barnstaple Library - A showing of Bill Bradshaw’s brilliant 20min film “Straw and Oak” – taking the time to do what’s right for the product, consumer and planet. The film will be showing throughout the day in room 2A on Saturday the 21st of October and will be accompanied by an exhibition by Local Studies. It is a free event.

Weds 25th October
All Ways Apples Festival
11am-4pm at Devonport Guildhall, Plymouth. See:
All Ways Apples Festival

Pubs stocking two or more “Real” cider and perry makers in October.

The Butterleigh Inn, Butterleigh (Joint runner-up for our Cider Pub of the Year 2023)
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider
Sheppy's Cider

The New Inn at Coleford near Crediton
Bere Cider
Gray's Cider
Hecks Perry
Sam's Winkleigh Cider

Pony & Trap, Cullompton
Sandford Orchards Cider
More Info to come

Gresham House Inn, Dawlish
(Joint runner-up for our Cider Pub of The Year 2023)
Cornish Orchards
Sandford Orchards

The Sir Walter Raleigh, East Budleigh
Sandford Orchards Cider
Ridge and Furrow Cider
Woodsy's Cider

Cuckoo Taproom & Bottleshop, Exeter
Ross on Wye Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Imperial, Exeter
Harry's Cider
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Old Fire House, Exeter
Heck's Cider
Rich's Cider
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider
Snail's Bank Cider

Pig & Pickle Micropub, Exeter
Gray's Cider
Sheppy's Cider
Taunton Cider

Bicton Inn, Exmouth
Sandford Orchards
Wistman's

First & Last Inn, Exmouth
Checkstone Cider
Sandford Orchards

The Grapevine, Exmouth
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Poachers Inn, Ide
Norcotts Cider
South Hams Cider

The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare
Courtney's of Whimple Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Lamb Inn, Sandford near Crediton
Dorset Nectar Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

Hare & Hounds, Gittisham, nr. Honiton/Sidbury
Sandford Orchards Cider
Wiscombe Cider

The Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Spreyton
(Branch, SW Regional, and now National
Cider Pub of the Year 2023)
2 perries and 19 ciders from 12 different
makers for this Autumn/Winter season

Exeter Inn, Thorverton
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Bridge Inn, Topsham
Branscombe Cider
Four Elms Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

The Merry Harriers, Westcott
Norcotts Cider
Ridge & Furrow Cider

The Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum
Sam's Winkleigh Cider
Sandford Orchards Cider

It’s Cider & Perry month! – What’s happening near you?

We have over 120 pubs in our area selling “Real” cider in a variety of dispense methods; Bag in Box (BiB), Keg, Hand Pump & Bottles. Why not visit a few of them in Cider Month? Visit Our Real Cider & Perry Pubs page for a list.

Cider Makers offering East Devon Pubs something extra in Cider Month:
(Landlords can email ku.gro.armac.retexe@redic for a link to your dedicated trade page)

Axminster Cider Company are offering a case of their award winning bottles at £22.20 + Vat together with some free samples delivered with the order. 4 x varieties available.

Hunts Cider are offering: buy two of their 20 litre BIB ciders and get a third for half price.
Plus, a free 3 litre gift box of our cider and a beer mat.

Ridge & Furrow Cider are offering a 10% discount for a 20L bag in box.
£5 + VAT delivery for one box. Free delivery for 2 or more.

South Hams Cider are offering £3.00 off their 20L bag in box Vintage and Double Apple ciders.

Sandford Orchards Cider are offering 20% off bottles and BIBs of their cider The General.
They are also planning to offer sample packs of The General and Sandford Reserve to the trade during October.

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