Less than one month until Ross Cider Fest 2026 at Broome Farm in Herefordshire
The Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company are excited to be welcoming cider lovers, cider enthusiasts and cidermakers back to Broome Farm in Peterstow for their annual ‘Ross Cider Festival’, running from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September this year.
The festival is at the heart of the Ross Cider Company’s calendar. Started by third generation cidermaker Mike Johnson in 2001, the festival has continued every year since (except 2020 due to Covid), with the Ross Cider barns transformed into a music venue, dance floor, bar area and food court, with bands and solo artists taking the stage all weekend. Attendees can choose to camp anywhere in the idyllic Broome Farm orchards, pitching up amongst the fruit-laden apple and pear trees for a weekend.
For founder Mike, that the festival goes from strength to strength each year provides deep emotional satisfaction. “We started the festival to really celebrate the cider being made locally, and to provide a space for the cidermakers themselves to educate drinkers about what is being made in the orchards and barns of Herefordshire. It is amazing to see it continue 25 years on.”
The Ross Cider Company produces natural cider and perry from fruit grown in their own unsprayed and minimal intervention orchards at Broome Farm. Single variety ciders and perries are at the heart of their production philosophy, showcasing what historical cider and perry apples taste like and ensuring they continue to survive. Blending is also an art which the company has mastered, with blended ciders such as Raison d’Être becoming an anticipated annual vintage. The Ross Cider Festival is a celebration of Herefordshire’s cider culture, history and heritage, as well as the future of this mighty drink, with over 50+ ciders and perries available to choose from on their festival bar, and 8 new 75cl ciders and perries being launched at their Launch Night Cider Club on Thursday 3rd September.
As well as selling their own drinks, the Ross Cider Company has extended an invitation to 8 cidermakers to join them on Saturday 5th September for a cidermaker showcase. The makers this year are: Artistraw Cider, Castle House Press, Flybenight Cider, Gregg’s Pit, Hancock's Meadow Farm, Little Pomona, Palmer’s Upland Cyder, and Seb’s Cider.
Director Albert Johnson says “welcoming our industry friends to showcase their cider is a beautiful and important part of our festival; the community minded spirit of Herefordshire cidermaking is a joy to be a part of and to share.”
Music headliners this year are Soul Strutters, a soul and funk band based in Bristol; Burnside, a blues and rock band from Birmingham; and Bullo Pill, an alternative folk rock ensemble.
The festival programme highlights include a cidermakers bottle share, a ceilidh, a charity dog show raising money for local Ross charity Hope Support Services, a wildlife walk and talk with Toby Fountain of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, and a line dancing workshop.
On the final day of the festival, Sunday 6th September, an Autumn Market will take place from 11am to 4pm. The market will include more than 12 stallholders, with items such as crochet, stained glass, ceramics and local food produce available to browse and purchase.
Day and weekend tickets are available at rosscider.com/ciderfest
Notes to Editors
1. Full weekend tickets are £53.50 per adult, with a £16 optional addition for weekend camping. Campers are welcome to arrive at the farm from Thursday afternoon and stay until Monday morning.
2. Friday and Saturday day tickets are £28 per adult, or £35 with one night’s camping included.
3. Sunday is free entry for the public, with the festival closing at approximately 6pm.
4. Accompanied children are free but must be registered.
5. Tickets are available to purchase online at rosscider.com/ciderfest
Images:
For more information:
Becky Fletcher, Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company
becky@rosscider.com
Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.
Comments