Campaign for Real Ale

Devon Cider Producers

Real Cider Producers in Devon.

Devon is very well served for traditional real cider and perry, with 33 producers listed here that we are currently aware of (18 November 2023). We hope to be able to provide more information about the producers listed here. If you know of any that are not listed, please let me, Mike Shopland, know by emailing me ku.gro.armac.htuomylp@redic Please try to provide me with some contact details for the cider producer. Thank you.

Plymouth CAMRA Branch Area

Countryman Cider

Felldownhead, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0QR. Tel 01822 870226. Visit their Facebook Page: COUNTRYMAN CIDER FACEBOOK

Countryman are located in the 15th century stables of a former coaching inn on the Devon side of the lovely Tamar Valley. Cider is available as Dry, Medium, Sweet or Vintage in bottle, earthenware jars or tub. Visitors are always welcome, with coach parties by prior arrangement. Countryman Medium Cider won the CAMRA National Cider Of The Year 2017 award at the National CAMRA Cider and Perry festival, held in Reading in May 2017 - well done and well deserved Vernon!

Exeter CAMRA Branch Area

Axminster Craft Cider

Uphay Farm, Membury Road, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7JG. Tel 01297 34415, email moc.redicretsnimxa@kcin, EX13 7JG. Visit their Website here AXMINSTER CIDER.

There's been a cider house at Uphay Farm for hundreds of years. Way back then, the reputation of the cider would attract the best workers to help bring in the harvest. Now, they just have a passion for making cider. Made the way that it should be, from the finest, traditional West Country apples pressed together for balance and taste.

The cider is fermented using the wild yeasts that are naturally present in pressed juice. They only use 100% pressed apple juice, and you can taste that they’d never add water or juice to lower the ABV when bottling.

Bollhayes Cider

Bollhayes Park, Clayhidon, EX15 3PN. Tel 01404 890262. Visit their Website here BOLLHAYES CIDER

Bollhayes is made from a blend of traditional Devon cider apples and matured in oak barrels to create a mellow, seasoned cider. The cider is produced by Alex Hill, the founder of cider-making equipment manufacturer Vigo, and a long-time expert cider maker.

Brimblecombe’s Devon Farmhouse Cider

Farrant’s Farm, Dunsford, Nr Exeter EX6 7BP. Tel 01647 252783. Visit their Website here BRIMBLECOMBES CIDER

This producer is to be found in an ancient Devon Longhouse, located between Dunsford and Longdown. It has been a site for cider production for 500 years. The current cider press is 350 years old. The cider is straw – pressed.

Chucklehead Cider

South Hayne Farm, Shillingford, nr Tiverton EX16 9BL. Email ku.oc.redicdaehelkcuhc@selas Tel 01234 572332. Visit their Website here CHUCKLEHEAD CIDER

Using traditional West Country Cider apples, this is an award-winning small family business which has been making cider since 1993. They now provide a bag in box mail order service, and sell most of their cider through agricultural shows and other events.

Cockeyed Cider

1 Palmerston Park, Tiverton, Devon EX16 5PG. Tel: 07926 191089, Email ku.oc.llimedlo@stnuocca. Visit their Website here COCKEYED CIDER

They are a multi award-winning craft cider producer based in deepest, darkest Devon. They use traditional methods to produce a variety of ciders, ranging from the strictly traditional to the daringly contemporary. They are passionate about using traditional cider apples to create their craft cider, but get equally excited about experimenting with other apple varieties and ingredients that they’ve scrumped from the Devon hedgerows.

Courtneys

Pelagic House, Dunkeswell, Devon, EX14 4RB, Email enilno.syentruoc@ofni , Tel 01404 890 093. Visit their Website here COURTNEYS

They are located in the small cider village of Whimple, Devon, where they make cider on their ancient Whiteways cider orchards. Whiteways, established in 1893, had the largest Cyder apple orchards in the world and was famous for its Cydrax and Peardrax brands. They used an interesting and wide variety of apples chosen to make a fine blend of cider. As the older original trees fall in the orchard, they re-plant with old Devon varieties. At present there are over 450 trees, and they manage the orchards naturally, with as little human intervention as possible. They do not spray or use fertilisers on the orchards, encouraging biodiversity and the birds, bees and their own sheep to maintain the pasture and fertilise the ground.

Crispin’s Cider

Mosshayne Farm, West Clyst, Exeter EX1 3TR. Visit their Website here CRISPIN’S CIDER

For years, Crispin has helped run engaging community projects supporting local orchards. He liked to handcraft Proper Westcountry Cider, on small scale equipment, exclusively from the distinctive apples of this region. UPDATE: Sadly in March 2022: He ceased trading at the end of the Financial Year 2021. The closure of the Hospitality trade as part of Lockdowns, along with banning social gatherings, made it impossible. This has had a disproportionate effect on small independent folk like Crispin.

Find and Foster

Huxham Barns, Huxham, Devon EX5 4EJ. Visit their Website here FIND AND FOSTER CIDER

Their aim is to reveal the quality potential of the traditional orchards that they foster in Devon; they cultivate, nurture and encourage them to thrive, while creating natural, world class Champagne method, keeved and pet nat ciders. They work with farmers to help breathe life back into traditional orchards on their farms; to prevent further decline and the extinction of important local apple varieties and work towards creating balanced, biodiverse ecosystems, that thrive with wildlife and require minimal human intervention. Unlike commercial orchards, these orchards are rich in nationally rare species and an important home for diverse pollinators, birds & other wildlife.

Four Elms Cider

Four Elms Fruit Farm/Four Elms Juice Ltd, Harpford, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NJ. Tel 01395 568286. Email moc.dlrownepotb@mraftiurfsmleruof. Visit their Website here FOUR ELMS CIDER

Now into its third generation of Smedley family ownership since the 1960’s, Four Elms continues to commit its investment in modern orchards (70 acres) and infrastructure, providing a sustainable future for apple production. The Smedley's currently grow 14 varieties of apple. A range of seven 'Real Devonshire Apple Juices' and three 'Real Devonshire Ciders' are also produced onsite at Four Elms. With many years’ experience in the industry, the team's passion and dedication to quality has resulted in numerous champion places in 'The National Fruit Show' and 'Taste of the West' for Juice and Cider.

Gray’s Devon Cider

Halstow, Tedburn St. Mary, Nr Exeter EX6 6AN, Tel 01647 61236. Email ku.oc.redicnovedsyarg@redic . Visit their Website here GRAY’S CIDER

The Gray family has been producing their traditional still cider for more than 300 years over 15 generations. Only local and home-produced apples are used. Cider is dispensed straight from the oak barrels in the large barn behind the farmhouse.

Lyme Bay Winery

Shute, Axminster EX13 7PW. Tel 01297 551355. Email ku.oc.sknirdwbl@ofni. Visit their Website here LYME BAY WINERY

Cider apple varieties, such as Dabinett, Kingston Black and Yarlington Mill, are used to produce a quality range of real, full-flavoured ciders. Jack Ratt Scrumpy Cider, Jack Ratt Vintage Cider and Lyme Bay Sparkling Cider have all won numerous awards.

Ridge and Furrow Cider

Weekes Farm, Mutterton, Cullompton, Devon EX15 1RN. Tel 07956 500490. Email ku.oc.redicworrufdnaegdir@nitsuj. Visit their Website here RIDGE AND FURROW CIDER

Ridge & Furrow Cider makes award-winning naturally sweet Devon craft cider in small batches from apples sourced from our own traditional ridge and furrow orchard. The orchard is thought to date back to the 1890s. The trees being planted on the ridges with the furrows acting as drainage channels. The orchard still has several veteran trees including some Northwoods. It has been restored to former glories since the 1970s and now has more than 30 traditional Westcountry cider apple varieties including Kingston Black, Dabinett, Sweet Coppin, and Yarlington Mill.

Rull Orchard

Bickleigh, Devon EX5 5LN. Email ku.oc.drahcrollur@ekim. Visit their Website here RULL ORCHARD

Rull Farm is shown on the Tithe maps so had existed for hundreds of years. They use all their own apples, or source them locally. In addition to the new orchard, and the beehives, they have dug a wildlife pond, installed bird and bat boxes, built wooden log pile habitats, and they manage their grassland and hedges to provide as much habitat and food sources as possible. They don’t use any pesticides, or insecticides, and reuse as much as they can, and operate as many closed loop ideas as possible. For example, we grow comfrey and harness stinging nettles to use as fertilisers. They also operate the farm on a carbon negative footprint. They have planted hundreds of new deciduous trees, as well as the orchard trees. They use solar thermal to provide their hot water, and although they source their electricity from a low carbon provider, they will soon install their own electric solar power.

Sandford Orchards

The Cider Works, Commonmarsh Lane, Crediton, Devon, EX17 1HJ. Tel 01363 777 822. Email ku.oc.sdrahcrodrofdnas@redic. Visit their Website here SANDFORD ORCHARDS CIDER

Founded in 2002, they are independent, family owned and very proud to be based in the oldest working cider mill in the UK, breathing life back into the old building. Their home, in the heart of Devon, is the perfect micro-climate to grow cider apples and they are blessed with some of the finest bittersweet apple orchards in the world.

Smith Hayne Orchards

Crediton, Devon EX17 4HR. Tel 07531 516567. Visit their Website here SMITH HAYNE CIDER

They produce five ciders and occasional one-off single varietal ciders. The five ciders are Vintage (Green Label), Methode Traditionelle (Yellow Label), Reserve (Pink and Red Labels), Late Season Blend (Purple Label) and a Still Cider.

Sprywood Cross Cider

Wooda Farm, Black Torrington, BEAWORTHY, Devon EX21 5QE. E mail: ku.oc.ssorcdoowyrps@olleh. Visit their Website here SPRYWOOD CROSS CIDER

Sprywood is a crossroads north of Black Torrington that is more or less at the centre of their apple orchards at Wooda Farm, hence the cider’s name. Their orchards were planted up between 1993 and 1997 after a visit from the late Ray Williams, from the Cider Research Centre at Long Ashton, who advised on the mix of apples which, in his opinion, would produce a well-balanced cider on their land. And of course the apples he advised were largely West Country varieties. In the last twenty years our summers have become warmer and wetter and our winters milder. But compared with the ‘up country’ varieties, it is noticeable how the local trees can hold their own much better in our heavy soil and damp conditions. The Somerset apple Stoke Red, which is one of their mainstays, is nicknamed ‘Neverblight’ and so far, fingers crossed, it never has.

Venton’s Devon Cyder

Willis Cottage, Clyst St. Lawrence, Cullompton EX15 2NL. Tel 07811 963853. Visit their Website here VENTON'S DEVON CYDER

Their methods of producing cider are as traditional as they get in Devon. Devon cider apples, natural yeast from the apples and orchards, a crusher, a twin screw oak press, barley straw and oak barrels are all that they use.

North Devon CAMRA Branch Area

Green Man Cider

2 Rockyside, Landkey, Barnstaple, North Devon EX32 0NA. Visit their Website here GREEN MAN CIDER

The two partners, Ben and Simon, have been making proper cider in North Devon for years, starting commercially in 2014 when they purchased a local cidermakers equipment upon his retirement. Having bought it, they thought they had better make more cider – and so began the Green Man story. They are both passionate about cider and are keen to ensure that the beautiful traditional orchards of Devon and Somerset remain an important part of our landscape, and that cider and cider making remain an expression of West Country culture and heritage.

Hancock’s Devon Cider

Clapworthy Mill, South Molton, EX36 4HU. Tel 01769 572678. Email ku.oc.redicskcocnah@ofni. Visit their Website here HANCOCK'S DEVON CIDER

Hancock's have been producing cider at Clapworthy Mill for over 50 years. They bottle their cider in a variety of different sizes from miniature bottles to 5 litre bag-in-box, and 5 gallon containers. They are no longer open to the public and now only wholesale their cider, so you would need to contact them on their website for details of the nearest stockist.

Honey Wood Orchards

Huntshaw Mill, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 7HB. Tel 07977 194254. Email ku.oc.drahcrodoowyenoh@ofni. Visit their Website here HONEY WOOD ORCHARDS CIDER

Chris started making cider as a hobby in 2005 and started looking for land on which to grow his own in 2010. He eventually purchased the land (about 7 acres) at Huntshaw Mill in 2013. The Orchard was planted by Chris over a four-year period. Today, they have over 400 trees and 65 different varieties The main bulk of the trees across the top of the orchard are all cider varieties, many of which are vintage varieties. Those on the lower slope are mainly dessert apples used for juicing. In 2021, the managed to secure some funding from the last of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Their part funding allowed them to install a new mill, press and storage tanks.

Indicknowle Cider and Farm Shop

Indicknowle Farm, North Devon EX34 0PA. Tel :01271 883980. Email moc.sulp.elwonkcidni@eus.kram . Visit their Website here INDICKNOWLE CIDER

Mark and Sue produce Indicknowle cider from traditional , old varieties of cider apples, such as Browns, Sweet Coppin, Cornish Gilly Flower, Slack ma Girdle and Morgans Sweet. These are grown on standard, rather than modern intensive bush type trees. After being gathered by hand in the autumn, the apples are blended, milled and pressed on the farm. The juice is then matured in oak barrels until it is ready for drinking.

Mortestone Drinks Company – Shipwrecked Cider

West Down, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9BZ. Visit their Facebook Page here SHIPWRECKED CIDER FACEBOOK

Individually crafted zero waste cider, blended from hand-selected apples from across North Devon.

Rock Hill Cider

EX18 7BR. Visit their Website here ROCK HILL CIDER

No other known details are held. The website given here no longer appears to be working. Does anyone have any information they can share with us? Please let us know if you do - thank you in advance.

Sampford Courtenay Cider

Solland Farm, Sampford Courtenay, Devon EX20 3QT. Tel 01837 851638, email moc.redicnoved@selas. Visit their Website here SAMPFORD COURTENAY CIDER

Solland Farm has a long history of apple growing and cider making, with the "new" cider house being built in 1878. Although they aren't thought of as a Devon variety Bramley's Seedling apples were first planted at Solland in the 1870's and one of those original surviving trees is thought to be one of the oldest Bramley trees growing anywhere in the country. As well Bramley, we have traditional Devon cider apple varieties like Ellis Bitters, Dabinette, Michelin and Fair Maid of Devon all of which contribute to the unique character of our ciders. As well as buying our cider on line, you can visit our farm shop The Cider Vat and join in one of our cider and orchard tours. They are quite rare amongst cider makers, in that they make their cider using only the apples grown in their own orchards.

Sam’s Cider Produced by Winkleigh Cider

Western Barn, Hatherleigh Road, Winkleigh EX19 8AP. Tel 01837 83560. Visit their Website here WINKLEIGH CIDER

Sam’s Cider is produced by The Winkleigh Cider Company and is based in the heart of the Devonshire countryside. Cider has been made onsite since 1916. They produce high quality Ciders and Scrumpies, all made from locally sourced apples within a 25 mile radius of the site. They hand craft and use traditional cider making methods to create award-winning ciders that have been matured in 100-year-old oak vats. They have an onsite shop and welcome visitors, please see website for more information.

South Devon CAMRA Branch Area

Bulkamore Orchard Cider

Rattery, South Brent Devon TQ10 9LQ. Email moc.liamg@sdrahcroeromaklub. Visit their Website here BULKAMORE CIDER

Bulkamore Orchards lie in the heart of the South Hams in Devon. They produce traditional Devon cider from their own orchard of Devon Apple varieties which they planted themselves 12 years ago. Their orchard has a wide range of traditional cider apple varieties, such as Somerset Redstreak, Tremletts Bitter, Black Dabinett, Browns, Foxwhelp, Yarlington Mill, Fair Maid of Devon, Sweet Coppin, Harry Masters Jersey, Captain Broad, Blue Sweet, Seven Bank, Sweet Alford, Golden Bittersweet & Dunkerton Late Sweet among others. Their cider is a ‘Real Cider’ as defined by CAMRA, which means that it is made from 100% fresh apple juice and is unpasteurised and bottle conditioned.

Farmer Jim's

Dacombe, near Newton Abbot, TQ12. Tel 07415 192091. Email ku.oc.smijremraf@ofni. Visit their Website here FARMER JIM's

Farmer Jim is a third-generation cider maker, using apples from their farms, and from neighbouring farms, to make traditional Devon cider.

Heron Valley Organic Drinks

Crannacombe Farm, Loddiswell, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4EA. Tel 01548 550256. Email ku.oc.yellavnoreh@selas. Visit their Website here HERON VALLEY ORGANIC DRINKS

They use nearly 1.5kg of organic fruit in every 75cl bottle of apple juice, and source many of their apples from rare indigenous apple tree varieties. No concentrates, water, sugars or sulphites find their way into the juices, and Heron Valley are working closely with the Wildlife Trust to develop sustainable orchards. Different sized bottles and various bag-in-box sizes are available online.

Hunt’s Farm Cider

Hunts Cider, Coombe House Lane, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6PU. Tel: 01803 782422. Visit their Website here HUNT'S FARM CIDER

Hunt’s Cider has been making cider in the Torbay area since 1805. They are still based on the family farm, and they use only the best cider apples to produce a range of still and sparkling ciders, which are supplied to pubs, shops and bars across Devon. They are able to supply bottled cider and bag-in-box cider, either delivered or bought directly from the farm.

Reddaway's Farm Cider

Lower Rixdale Farm, Luton, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot TQ13 0BN. Tel 01626 775218. Email moc.syawadder@mot. Visit their Facebook Page here REDDAWAYS CIDER FACEBOOK

Reddaway's is a traditionally made Devon Farmhouse Cider, made from 100% pure apple juice pressed from their own orchards. A blend of traditional apples is used and fermented in oak barrels, to create an award-winning product, sold both locally and country-wide. A traditional Dry Scrumpy (draught), Medium Farmhouse (draught) and Lightly Sparkling Medium-Dry (bottled) are available.

Silly Buckers Cider

Old Parsonage Farm, Dartington, Devon TQ11 0BS. Tel 07935 623518 . Visit their Facebook Page here SILLY BUCKERS CIDER FACEBOOK

No further details held.

Tucketts Farm Cider

Lower Netherton, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 4RL. Tel 07912 976334, email ku.oc.mrafsttekcut@bor. Visit their Facebook Page here TUCKETTS FARM CIDER FACEBOOK

Located on an idyllic farm in the Teign Estuary, they produce cider using their own apples.

Wallen Down Farm – Cosdon Cider

Wallen Down, Chagford, Devon TQ13 8HN. Email ku.oc.sderyburnwodnellaw@seiriuqne. Tel 07720 351984. Visit their Website here COSDON CIDER

Wallen Down Farm, based on the foothills of Dartmoor in Devon, is a smallholding run by the Le Grice family. They create and supply wonderful meat boxes and real apple juices for local customers to enjoy.

Yarde Real Drinks

Yarde Farm, Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RW. Tel 01803 782217. Email ku.oc.redicedray@edray. Visit their Website here YARDE CIDER

Based in Stoke Gabriel, home to perhaps the most well-known wassail in the region, this producer makes a range of ciders, juices and spirits. As well as bottles, the cider is available in 3, 10 and 20 litre boxes from the online shop.