Taunton and South Somerset Living Oct - Nov 2021

ADVERTISING FEATURE
Best of the
West Country...
The phrase from orchard to glass
has never been so timely as the West
Country enters its annual apple harvest.
Three generations of the
Thatcher family
As they do every year, Thatchers Cider is
celebrating the growers and cider makers
that create the British tradition that is
cider, from pip to pint.
Thatchers, based in Sandford, is a West
Country cider maker, a family company
through and through. Thatchers still
crafts all its ciders at Myrtle Farm – the
very same farm where founder, William
Thatcher, first started making cider back
in 1904. William and his son Stan, were
indeed the original craft cider makers,
honing the skills that have now been
passed down through four generations,
with the fifth generation of the Thatcher
family beginning to make their mark too.
For fourth generation Martin Thatcher,
remaining a family firm is central to the
very being of the company and allows
them to focus firmly on investing for
quality. “The business has passed
down from my Great Grandfather, to my
Grandfather, my Father to myself. And
now my two children, Eleanor and Peter,
are learning the ropes. Being a family
company has so many advantages, and
has without a doubt helped us get to
where we are today. We’re able to focus
on doing the things we believe in.
“Many people are pleasantly surprised
when they realise we really are still
making cider in the very same place my
Great Grandfather did at the turn of the
20th century. And that we’re still a family
owned, independent and British business.
This is the reality we are so very proud of.”
From its work through the Thatchers
Foundation, to its Young Talent
Apprenticeship Programme, Thatchers is
a committed contributor to the Somerset
community. From its partnership with
Somerset County Cricket Club, to
Somerset Day and the Eat:Festivals family,
Thatchers is a well-known face in the
county.
As are its orchards, and those of its apple
growers. Throughout September, October
and into November, apples are a familiar
sight being delivered from throughout the
West Country to the mill at Myrtle Farm for
the annual harvest.
“It’s such an important time of year to
shine a spotlight on the dedication to
quality and hard work that that all our
apple growers proudly demonstrate, day
in, day out through the hard work and
pride they put into growing the very best
quality apples,” says Martin. “And this
passion for quality allows our cider makers
in turn to craft the very best tasting ciders
here at Myrtle Farm.
“We have apple growers throughout
the West Country, some of whom have
worked with us for many years, others are
much newer, but they all have one thing in
common, and that’s taking great care of
their apples and meeting our expectations
of quality. Their commitment plays a huge
part in Thatchers’ journey of creating
innovative, high quality ciders for today’s
rapidly changing consumer tastes and
demands.”
Thatchers has 500 acres of its own
orchards in Somerset. Here they grow
traditional West Country varieties such as
Somerset Redstreak, and more modern
varieties like Gilly and Three Counties.
For many years Thatchers has been
researching and trialling new methods of
orcharding with traditional and modern
apple varieties. As the cider market
evolves, and tastes change, new styles
of cider become popular, and as a cider
maker it’s important for Thatchers to look
ahead and plant the varieties of apple that
create contemporary style ciders. Apple
trees take up to 7 years after planting to
crop effectively, so it’s clear to see why
they take the long-term approach.
The individual varieties of apple used
allows Thatchers cider makers to create
beautiful ciders that are bursting with
flavour - smooth and golden Thatchers
Gold with juicy apple flavours, naturally
hazy Thatchers Haze that brims with
fruitiness, sweet and vibrant Thatchers
Rosé made from rosy-red eating apples.
New to the family are zesty Cloudy
Lemon, crisp and sweet with a zing from
the juice of real lemons, and its alcoholfree
Thatchers Zero.
You can enjoy the fruits of the Thatchers
orchards by visiting its Cider Shop at
Myrtle Farm in Sandford where a warm
welcome awaits you. You’ll find all its
famous ciders, limited editions, gifts and
other product from the local area.
You could combine your trip with a visit
to The Railway Inn next door, Thatchers’
picturesque pub in the heart of Sandford.
Or if you’re keen to find out more about
life behind the scenes, tours of Myrtle
Farm are once again available for booking
at www.thatcherscider.co.uk
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