National Cider Day 2010 - events in Keighley & Craven
Each year in October CAMRA celebrates the quality and diversity of real cider and perry available in the UK. In 2009 Keighley and Craven branch had an fun-packed day on a cider and perry theme at the Kings Arms in Silsden. Francis and Lisa, who run the Kings, sourced a range of seven ciders/perries and the days entertainments involved a treasure-hunt around Silsden (on foot), a cider quiz and silly games involving apples.
Last year, on Saturday 9th October, we celebrated cider and perry in Skipton. There was a ‘jigsaw‘ quiz involving a tour round Skipton pubs looking for clues and visiting the pubs selling real cider and perry. The trail started and finished at the Narrow Boat on Victoria Street in Skipton and visited 3 other cider outlets, 2 of which had put on cider especially for the event. Participants had to match jigsaw-piece shaped photos (taken both inside and outside) to pubs around the town, answering apple- and pear-related questions on the way. Ten teams set out including one from Hull and one from Preston, the couple from Hull being the final winners. The Narrow Boat itself expanded its range of ciders to 8 (5 ciders and 3 perries). A highly enjoyable afternoon was had by all.
On the same day Naylors Brewery in Cross Hills repeated their highly successful 'Community cider making' day. They were overwhelmed by the number of people who turned up with apples to join in - see photographs... The resulting cider can be purchased from the brewery shop and we hope to have some available at Skipton Beer Festival which takes place in May 2011.
National Cider Month takes place every October and is organised by the Campaign for Real Ale. It promotes cider and perry (the pear equivalent of cider) which has been made and is served in the traditional fashion.
Cider is, of course, not just available in October. For a list of regular cider outlets in the branch area, click here.
Skipton and Keighley Beer Festivals also showcase a range of ciders and perries.
