Real cider is a long-established traditional drink which is produced naturally from apples and is neither carbonated or pasteurised. However real cider is in a similar situation to that which faced real ale some 30 years ago with the number of outlets for real cider is diminishing, even in the West Country. The situation with perry (which is made from pears) is even worse, as it is rarely available away from the farm gate. It is unfortunate that many of the most well known ciders in the UK are cold, fizzy keg products which have been produced artificially rather than naturally. It is well worth you tracking down some real ciders and perries and more and more people are discovering for themselves how deliciously mellow, aromatic and intoxicating the flavours of naturally produced real cider can be.
As a result of the difficulties facing real cider, CAMRA set up a cider and perry committee within CAMRA to inform consumers about the choice of real cider and perry available and to encourage the producers to continue production.
CAMRA has launched a new scheme to promote pubs serving real cider. If a pub near you has at least one real cider available throughout the year then please submit the pubs details below and we'll send out a free window sticker to the pub.
Submit a real cider pub
View Cider Pubs
This award is for the best pub in Britain that promotes/encourages sales of quality real cider/perry.
After a year of local and regional judging rounds,
The Orchard Inn, Bristol, has taken the National award in 2009 after impressing the judges with its unrivalled commitment to serving quality real cider and perry.
Nominations for the
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2010 competition have now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted a nomination. The winner will be announced in October as part of the Cider and Perry month promotion.
See the full list of past winners & finalists
We are now looking for nominations for The Pomona Award 2010. This award is presented by CAMRA to the person, place or thing who has done the most to promote real cider or perry primarily over the previous 12 months but, where there is no outstanding contender in this category, consideration is then given to ongoing outstanding work in this field. Both internal and external candidates are considered for this award.
If you are aware of a person, organisation, place or thing eligible for consideration for the Pomona Award, please complete the
Nomination Form.
More information about the award
CAMRA is delighted to announce that
Sandford Orchards' Cider of Crediton, Devon, and
Hartlands' Farmhouse Perry of Tirley, Gloucestershire, won Gold medals at CAMRA's National Cider and Perry Championships 2010, held at the Reading Beer and Cider Festival over the May bank holiday weekend.
The full results are:
Cider
GOLD - Sandford Orchards, Cider (Crediton, Devon)
SILVER - Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon (Llantwit Fardre, South Wales)
BRONZE - Pickled Pig, Porker's Snout (Stretham, Cambridgeshire)
Perry
GOLD - Hartlands, Farmhouse Perry (Tirley, Gloucestershire)
SILVER - Rathays, Brandy (Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
BRONZE - Ralph's, Old Badland Perry (New Radnor, Powys)
See the full list of past winners
Unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider & perry can only be made when the fruit is ripe. October is a very active time for producers, especially for those who make only a small amount of cider. Harvest time for cider fruit is roughly from September to November and by October production is in full flow.
Find out how CAMRA celebrates cider and perry in October