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. 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?

Locally, real cider and perry is regularly on sale at the Fox & Pine and the Ashton Arms in Oldham town centre; Our Gracie's, the Flying Horse and the Cask and Feather in Rochdale town centre; and the Trackside Bar in Bury town centre.

Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2025. The Fox & Pine, Greaves Street, Oldham, has been judged as the Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2025. The real ciders are sold on gravity from the cellar situated behind bar area and often includes ciders from regional producers, as well as ciders from the more traditional cider producing areas of Herefordshire, Somerset and Devon. The presentation of the award took place on Tuesday 22nd April at 7.30pm.The runner up Branch Cider Pub of the Year was Our Gracies, Rochdale. The presentation of the award took place on Saturday 19th April at 3pm.

The most recent town centre pub selling real cider is Our Gracie's in Rochdale town centre, which in the last eighteen months, has increased its cider range from one to six, and now sells up to eight real ciders from a 'cider fridge' with a range of ciders and perry from around the country. As part of the branch's 50th anniversary celebrations, Our Gracies hosted a tutored cider tasting event on Tuesday October 21st at 2pm. The date coinincided with National Apple Day and a range of six ciders and two perries were offered along with some nibbles, cheese and sandwiches. Tickets for the event, were priced at £12.. Of the eight ciders and perry tasted at the event, it was the two perries from Ty Gwyn (Herefordshire) and Barkers (Worcestershire) that were chosed by 70% of those in attendance, as the two favourite drinks of the afternoon.

Full details of all branch pubs selling real cider can be found on the CAMRA website National CAMRA , then under the 'Welcome to CAMRA' heading, selecting 'Rochdale, Oldham & Bury', then below the 'Welcome to Rochdale, Oldham & Bury' heading look for the sub headings 'Popular Towns' or 'Pubs & Clubs'. Select an individual town or 'Pubs & Clubs' if you want to 'view all' pubs and clubs within the whole of the Branch area. Then on the left hand side of the page scroll down and select under 'Serves' Real Cider. There are currently 13 pubs selling real cider and perry in Rochdale, Oldham and Bury. A summary of the pubs in the branch area selling real cider and/or perry, showing the range of ciders and/or perry that each pub has on sale, is shown below. The information is correct as at the beginning of December 2025

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 CAMRA "Real Cider sold here" window sticker and posters.

ROB Branch pubs serving real Cider

Trackside Bar, Bury Usually one real cider available on hand pump, however some may be fruit flavoured not using real fruit. The pub also 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.

Old Post Office Ale House, Castleton Up to three ciders, often from Sheppys, on sale on gravity dispense from bag in boxes near 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.

Ashton Arms, Oldham Usually 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.

Fox & Pine, 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.

Keg, Cask and Bottle, Prestwich One real cider from Hogans is usually on sale, from bag in box, via a Flojet and free flow tap 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, which is not considered by CAMRA to be real cider, due to the use of concentrated or chaptilised apple or fruit juices.

Casked, Ramsbottom Two changing real ciders served on gravity.

Irwell Works Brewery Tap, Ramsbottom The pub is now selling boxed cider by handpump from bag in box in the cellar. A visit will take place shortly to be able to report on the range being sold.

Baum, Rochdale Often a real cider on sale by hand pump.

Cask and Feather, Rochdale One real cider on sale, usually Barkers from Worcestershire, served by gravity dispense, advertised by pump clip on the bar

Cemetery, Rochdale Usually one real cider on sale, often by hand pump. Usually now only available in the summer months.

Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale Usually one or 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.

Our Gracie's, Rochdale Up to eight real ciders, usually including a perry, on sale from bag in boxes in a 'cider fridge' on the right hand side of the pub.

Squiffey Squirrel, Shaw New micro pub selling a real cider and a real perry from Barkers, Worcestershire.

Wassail,

Mike Robinson, Branch Cider Rep. Email ku.gro.armac.bor@redic