Real Cider and Perry
Introduction
Mike Robinson, Branch Cider representative, ku.gro.armac.bor@redic writes:
Cider is a long established British drink, which is produced naturally from apple juice. Real cider consists simply of freshly pressed apple juice, which has been allowed to ferment. There are currently 15 pubs selling real cider and perry in Rochdale, Oldham and Bury. A summary of the pubs, showing the range of ciders and/or perry that each pub has on sale, is shown at the bottom of the page. Commercial mass produced ciders are normally served very cold and are often fizzy and bland because of the extra carbon dioxide and other ingredients put into them during and after manufacture. They are usually made using stored concentrated apple juice or chaptilised apple juice which has had extra sugar added prior to fermentation to produce a super strong alcoholic product which is diluted prior to sale.
There are a tremendous number of flavours and aromas in real cider depending on the types of apples used, the proportions of each variety of apple the producers choose to blend and where the fruit is grown in Britain. If you have not tried real cider before you will be pleasantly surprised.
Real perry is made in exactly the same way as cider, from the fermented juice of freshly pressed pears but perry is usually only from pears grown specifically for perry production. Most real ciders and perries are blends of different varieties of apple or pear juices, but a number of single variety (SV) ciders and perries are made using just one type of apple or pear, like Kingston Black (apple) or Blakeney Red (pear).
CAMRA has reviewed it's definition of Real Cider and Perry.
CAMRA defines Real Cider or Perry as being fermented from the whole juice of fresh pressed apples or pears, without the use of concentrated or chaptilised juices.
CAMRA has for a long time not approved the use of concentrated apple juice in the production of real cider. This is how large commercial producers are able to make 'cider' all year round. The new definition also introduces the word 'chaptilised' which, in essence, is 'concentrated fermentable juice' produced by adding masses of sugar to the apple juice prior to fermentation. This is another process carried out by larger producers to enable them to store large quantities of high gravity alcohol prior to diluting it with water for sale to customers. The new definition now means that many large scale producers like, for example, Lilleys, Broadoak, Gwynt Y Ddraig, Thatchers, Thistly Cross and Westons, who use apple concentrate or chaptilised apple juice, are not considered by CAMRA to produce real cider, even though they may produce a non-carbonated still cider.
The popularity of real cider and perry is rising as more people discover how deliciously mellow and aromatic the flavours of naturally produced real cider can be, and CAMRA campaigns to raise the profile of real cider and perry as well as real ale. Real cider and perry can be sold by gravity from a 'bag in box' or other air tight container, often from a fridge or cool room behind the bar, however some pubs sell it by hand pump straight from the cellar. Unlike real ale, which has to be sold from the cask in a matter of days, real cider can be sold over a period of several weeks, if not longer, provided it is stored in cool surroundings. So why not make the change from drinking cold fizzy bland tasting cider and perry to the real thing?
Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2026.
Our Gracies, The Butts, Rochdale, has been judged as the Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2026. Our Gracies, Rochdale, was the branch runner up last year, but this year, it has taken the top award. The pub, situated on The Butts, in Rochdale centre, not far from the bus station and tram terminus, has its own dedicated cider fridge, which makes it helpful and easy to spot what’s on sale each week. There is an ever changing selection of eight ciders and perry, as also shown on the box cider chalk board beside the bar. This last year the selection has included ciders from a number of producers, whose cider has not been sold in any other pub in the area. The pub also hosted a tutored cider tasting event in October which was well attended by branch cider drinkers. The event is to be repeated again in October this year. The Cider Pub of the Year Award will be presented to the pub on May 15th and a report and pictures will appear in the next edition of More Beer.
Current Cider News.
The most recent branch pub selling real cider is Royton Mill Tap, Shepherd Street, Royton It currently has Sandford Orchards Devon Mist cider (4.5% abv) on sale from bag in box, with a fruit flavoured cider from Seacider of Sussex also on sale. Both ciders are selling well and the pub is considering putting an addition real cider on sale, with a Ross on Wye cider being a potential option.
Full details of all branch pubs selling real cider can be found on the CAMRA website
Go and visit one or more of the cider pubs mentioned and discover what you have been missing all these years. You will be pleasantly surprised.
If you know of any other pubs in the ROB branch area selling real cider or perry on a regular basis please let Mike Robinson, The Branch Cider Representative know so he can visit them to present them with a CAMRA "Real Cider sold here" window sticker and posters.
ROB Branch pubs serving real Cider
(This information is correct as at the beginning of April 2026)
Bury - Robert Peel, Market Place, Bury. Four or five real ciders, usually from Seacider from Sussex, on sale by gravity from a fridge behind the left hand side of the bar area. The ciders on sale are often advertised on pump clips on the right hand side of the bar, but are not sold via hand pump. There can be another non-fizzy still cider on sale from Thatchers which is not considered a real cider by CAMRA due to the use of concentrated or chapilised juice.
Bury - Trackside Bar, Bolton Street Station, Bury. Regretfully at present (April 2026) the pub has no real cider on sale. There used to be one real cider available, sometimes on hand pump, however it was often fruit flavoured not using real fruit. The pub sells Broadoak perry on hand pump which is not considered by CAMRA to be a real perry due to the use of concentrated or chaptilised juices.The ELR house cider and the Sheppys Classic draught are both keg ciders.
Castleton - Old Post Office Ale House, Manchester Road, Castleton. Up to two ciders, often from Sheppys, on sale on gravity dispense from bag in boxes at the side of the bar area. The Lilleys cider also on sale from bag in box is not considered by CAMRA to be real cider due to the use of concentrated apple or fruit juices.
Oldham - Ashton Arms, Clegg Street, Oldham Sometimes one real cider on sale on handpump, often Duddas Tun or Biddendens. The ciders on sale from the fridge, from Lilleys, are not considered by CAMRA to be real ciders due to the use of concentrated or chaptilised apple or fruit juices.
Oldham - Fox & Pine, Greaves Street, Oldham Usually five or six real ciders, often a perry, served on gravity, from bag in boxes in the cool room behind the bar area.
Prestwich - Keg, Cask and Bottle, Bury New Road, Prestwich One real cider from Hogans is usually on sale, from bag in box, via a free flow tap (using a flojet) on the wall behind the bar. The adjoining taps may well be offering a keg cider from the same producer and/or a non real boxed cider from Lilleys (again using a flojet), which is not considered by CAMRA to be real cider, due to the use of concentrated or chaptilised apple or fruit juices.
Ramsbottom - Casked, Prince Street, Ramsbottom Up to two real ciders served on gravity from a glass doored fridge behind the bar area. One of the boxed ciders could well be fruit flavoured cider not considered real by CAMRA. There is also a keg cider on sale, often from Sandford Orchards.
Ramsbottom - Irwell Works Brewery Tap, Irwell Street, Ramsbottom The pub is now selling a boxed still cider by handpump, served from a bag in box in the cellar. The cider may be a real cider but is sometimes from a producer like Thistly Cross, who use concentrated apple juice, which is not considered to be a real cider by CAMRA.
Rochdale - Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale Often a real cider on sale by hand pump.
Rochdale - Cask and Feather, Oldham Road, Rochdale One real cider on sale, usually Barkers from Worcestershire, served by gravity dispense, advertised by pump clip on the bar
Rochdale - Cemetery, Bury Road, Rochdale Usually one real cider on sale, often by hand pump. Usually now only available in the summer months.
Rochdale - Flying Horse Hotel, Town Hall Square, Rochdale Usually one or maybe two real ciders on sale by free flow tap on the rear of the bar. The use of the words 'traditional cider' on the Untappd display board behind the bar under 'Cask Ciders' can be misleading since some are not considered by CAMRA to be real ciders.
Rochdale - Our Gracie's, The Butts, Rochdale Up to eight real ciders, usually including a perry or two, on sale from bag in boxes in a 'cider fridge' on the right hand side of the pub.
Royton - Royton Mill Tap, Shepherd Street, Royton Now selling two bag in box ciders on draught from the cool room beside the bar area. Currently Sandford Orchards and Seacider. A third, from Ross on Wye, may follow shortly.
Shaw - Squiffy Squirrel, Milnrow Road, Shaw New micro pub currently selling a real cider from Seacider from Sussex which may be fruit flavoured..
Wassail,
Mike Robinson, Branch Cider Rep. Email ku.gro.armac.bor@redic