To mark the beginning of October as National Cider Month the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) today announces the winner of its search to find the best pub serving real cider and perry in Britain.
The Old Poets' Corner in Ashover, Derbyshire will today (Tuesday October 3rd) be given the coveted title of Cider Pub of the Year by CAMRA. It is only the second time the award has been given and the judges were delighted to award the honour to a pub outside of traditional cider making counties such as Somerset or Herefordshire.
The Cider and Perry Pub of the Year judging panel said: “We were very pleasantly surprised to find this little gem of a stone-built pub in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District selling such a wonderful and interesting selection of traditional ciders and perries all in excellent condition.”
Licensee Kim Beresford said "We are totally thrilled to have been awarded this huge accolade after only two years at the Old Poets' Corner.
“It's thanks to the demand for cider and perry in north-east Derbyshire that we are able to maintain our broad range and provide our customers with what they so obviously want in such an unusually Northern outlet."
Kim and his wife Jackie took over the Old Poets' Corner in June 2004. A good range of real ale was quickly established, but they say real cider arrived almost by accident. Kim is heavily involved in running Chesterfield's Rail Ale Festival, and in 2004 there were some unsold part tubs of cider. A mix of these was sold at the Old Poets' Corner and was such a huge success that it showed the sales potential real cider has.
The Old Poets' Corner's cider sales have gone from strength to strength and an ever changing range of ciders and perries has built up from one tub in 2004 to six currently, including at least one perry. However to mark CAMRA's National Cider Month a cider week is being held, starting on 14th October. During which there will be an even greater range of ciders and perries than usual on sale.
CAMRA asked its 83,000 members and the public to nominate their favourite pubs in Britain that featured real cider and perry. The entries were then whittled down to four finalists. The joint runners-up were:
The Penrhyn Arms, Penrynside, Conwy : 01953 888593
The Banham Barrel, Banham, Norfolk: 01929 439229
The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers: 01492 547732 or 07780 678927
Gillian Williams, Director of CAMRA's Cider & Perry campaigning said: “The Old Poets' Corner is a tremendous example of a real cider success story. CAMRA is encouraging licensees to put a real cider behind their bar in October so that customers can try this delicious, fruity and natural drink for themselves.”
The presentation of the Cider Pub of the Year award will be made at 1pm on Tuesday October 3rd at the Old Poet's Corner. Press wishing to attend should contact Andrea Briars on 07732 754888.
The Old Poet's Corner is supplied its cider by Merrylegs - a cider supplier based in the North of England. In recognition of Merrylegs' contribution to real cider and Perry CAMRA is honoured to award the company the 2006 Pomona Award. This year the award is shared jointly with fellow cider supplier, Jon Hallam.
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Notes to Editors:
A high resolution jpeg picture of the Old Poets' Corner is available from CAMRA Press Office by calling 01727 798443 or emailing
owen.morris@camra.org.uk
Real cider is a long-established traditional drink which is produced naturally from apples and is neither carbonated nor pasteurised. As cider is made from apples, perry is made from perry pears, which tend to be smaller and harder then dessert pears.
As the fruit ripens throughout September and October, it is milled and pressed. The juice is then left to ferment and mature until April/May when it ready to drink.
Recommended ciders and perries:
See the CAMRA website at
www.camra.org.uk/cidermonth for a list of recommended ciders and perries.
CAMRA's Good Cider Guide:
This is the guide for real cider and perry-loving connoisseurs. Organised into counties, the guide contains maps, listings of producers and a selection of approximately 500 outlets. Available priced £10.99 (£8.99 to CAMRA members) from
www.camra.org.uk/shop or by calling 01727 867201. Review copies are available by contacting Cressida Feiler at
cressida.feiler@camra.org.uk or by calling 01727 867201.
Pomona Award: Each year CAMRA members nominate the person, place or thing who has done the most for cider and perry on an ongoing basis for this award.
Regional cider events:
Look on www.camra.org.uk/cidermonth to find cider events put on by local branches in your area.
For more information contact:
Old Poets' Corner on 01246 590888
CAMRA Press Officer Owen Morris on 01727 798443
Mick Lewis (London) - 07952 244687 or 020 7935 1350
Alistair Boyd (Scotland) - 0141 944 2016
Rhys Jones (Wales) - 01974 241255
Andrea Briers (Norfolk) - 01553 766904 or 07732 754888