Because of the problems of advancing age, lack of capital and unsuitability of premises, I decided to quit making cider in the Autumn of 2007. Instead Lambourn Valley Cider will continue, but only in order to make perry; most of which will be bottle-fermented.
However this does not spell the end of Berkshire cider. There are two other craft cider makers in this part of the county, and we have decided to form an informal consortium under the name of WEST BERKSHIRE CIDER MAKERS. The other two members are:
Ciderniks, Kintbury, Hungerford.
Proprietor: Nick Edwards.
Tel: 07885 296789.
E-mail: ciderman@ciderniks.com
Nick started cider making in 2003, using mainly local fruit growing in the Kintbury/Inkpen area, as well as importing some Yarlington Mill apples from Herefordshire. His Yellowleg cider takes its name from the old nickname for Inkpen clay workers.
Wyatt's Cider, Cold Ash, Thatcham.
Proprietor: Rick Wyatt.
Tel: 07775 711356.
E-mail: rick.wyatt@virginmedia.co.uk
Rick made his first batch of cider in 2006, and it went down very well at Reading Beer and Cider Festival in May 2007. He is currently using fruit from some of the orchards to the east of Newbury formerly used by Lambourn Valley Cider, including the cider trees at Douai Abbey.
Lambourn Valley Cider will continue to run bars at outside events to market and sell its own products and those of the other two consortium members.
All three members worked together for the first time in 2007, when they pooled some of their output to supply Shalbourne Ale and Music Festival in July and the Newbury Real Ale Festival in September.