May’s Cider Company

May’s cider is made at Kynaston, just outside Much Marcle which is famous for its cider producers and the annual Big Apple festival.

Some of the traditional cider orchards at Hall Court, the home May’s Cider, are several hundred years old. However, for nearly 400 years, the farm was renowned for its hops rather than its cider. In the 1980s the price of hops fell and the disease known as verticillium decimated the hop gardens. A new direction was needed for the farm and the standard orchards have been replanted with the help of a Countryside Stewardship grant.

In Herefordshire the rich red soils, mild climate sunshine and reliable rainfall provide ideal growing conditions for cider apple trees.