Real Cider and Perry

What is Real Cider?

Real cider is something that is made of natural ingredients using traditional methods. It does not contain artificial sweeteners or chemicals, it has not been pasturised to kill-off the character nor has it been artificially carbonated. Cider, as in "real cider" has become very scarce indeed, much more so than real ale in fact whilst Perry, like cider but made using special "perry pears", is under dire threat of extinction.

Where can we get real cider or perry in and around Bedfordshire?

In Ampthill, the Albion sells Westons Old Rosie, Traditional Scrumpy and Country Perry. The Old Sun also sells Westons Old Rosie and the Ossory Arms has a rotating list with some interesting ciders.

In Dunstable, The Globe sells Westons Old Rosie cider on hand pump, plus Westons Herefordshire Country Perry, while the Gary Cooper sells Westons Old Rosie and/or Vintage Organic.

Leighton Buzzard has the Wheatsheaf and Swan Hotel supplying real ciders all year. The Golden Bell sells Westons in the summer only.

In Luton, the Black Horse has Westons cider served directly from a polypin, and the English Rose has one rotating cider or perry from varied sources. The London Hatter also has a variety

In Shillington the Noahs Ark stocks Westons Old Rosie.

In Toddington, the Oddfellows Arms has Westons Old Rosie cider, usually available served from the cellar and something else during the regular beer festivals.

Elsewhere in Bedfordshire

Bedford: Wellington Arms - Real cider and perry sold.
Bedford: Pilgrims Progress usually sells Westons Old Rosie and/or Vintage.
Clophill: Stone Jug - Serves Westons Old Rosie.
Henlow: Engineers Arms - Often have up to five or six real ciders and a perry. The Engineers came third in the 2011 CAMRA EAst Anglia Cider Pub of the Year competition. They also hold an annual cider festival in February.
Little Staughton: Crown with Westons Traditional Scrumpy
Sandy: Sir William Peel
Souldrop: Bedford Arms, summertime only
Stevington: Royal George, Westons cider or perry
Sutton: John O'Gaunt
Yelden: Chequers, Westons Old Rosie

Hertfordshire

These pubs are known to have sold cider and/or perry within the last year. Research is currently ongoing.

• The Lytton Arms, Old Knebworth
• The Lordship Arms, Benington
• The Strathmore Arms, St. Paul's Walden
• Our Mutual Friend, Stevenage
• The Sunrunner, Hitchin
• The Red Lion, Preston
• The Half Moon, Hitchin
• The Chequers, Woolmer Green
• Brambles, Buntingford

This list is currently still being updated so please bear with us. We would dearly love to receive more information about locally available ciders and perries. Please send any info to Ros.