Ye Olde Cider Bar: Mind your Head

On the 26th April a coach load of us headed down to Tuckers Maltings Beer festival in Newton Abbot, deepest Devon. After a few halves some of us went about the serious business of heading of to Ye Olde Cider Bar on East Street (opposite the hospital) [Wonder Why?? ED]. This place sells the REAL stuff, no Blackthorn, Strongbow or Magners here!!.

I can’t remember how many or what ciders are served, but its an excellent range, often varying, that included on that day an 8% called Suicidal (ask Tad about that one). It is a traditional wood-panelled pub with plenty of outdoor seating, a real sun trap when its hot. And nice and cosy if you want to crash out and take the weight off your feet.

Good honest food is served: i.e. cheese & ham/cheese & pickle rolls and pasties, and at 90p per half it is well worth seeking out (I started on halves anyway).

We could have stayed all day but we had to get back to the Beer Festival and the coach home via Dorchester (again ask a comatose Tad what he remembers). If you like Scrumpy, this is the place to go, it makes for an excellent day out.

Phil Bottwood

Cider in East Dorset

Unlike more Western counties, there are few places locally that sell real cider. One oasis is The Red Lion in Swanage, they usually have a range of eight including many of the Weston’s range. For the more adventurous walker, or those who can find a driver, the Square & Compass at Worth Matravas now presses their own apples and look out for their cider festivals. Also out in the countryside you will find real cider at The Vine at Pamphill, The Museum at Farnham; if you can’t get to any of these but fancy a try then ask your local landlord! It may just tempt

the Magners drinkers as well.