Hope for cider makers with new parliamentary group

Cider makers say they are hopeful a new parliamentary group will help their industry thrive and survive.

Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, has been made chair of the new All Party Parliamentary Group for Cider.

Cider in the UK contributes £2.7bn to the economy, supporting more than 65,000 jobs. However, Dyke said cider makers currently face "a perfect storm" of rising energy and labour costs.

George Scott, master cider maker and grandson of Gordon Rich, the founder of Rich's Cider in Watchfield, Somerset, said: "Minimum wage is going up, it's a real hard industry at the moment. A lot of people are not as drinking as much as before."

"There's 300 British farmers with orchards and there's probably more smaller ones. That means there's about 170,000 apples grown in the UK for cider making," Scott added.

Dyke said making cider is a "proud British tradition" that "thrives in Somerset".

"However, cider makers currently face a perfect storm of rising energy and labour costs," she said.

"Producers are also navigating heavy tax burdens.

"The All Party Parliamentary Group for Cider will act as a voice to support the orchardists and cider makers who help define our heritage and support thousands of jobs."

Toby Fry from Harry's Cider in Long Sutton said he thinks it is important for the industry to have someone speak "passionately" about what they do.

"From a traditional cider maker's point of view there's been a much larger taxation on all ciders above 5.5%," Fry said.

"It's hugely important for the government and for the economy and rural areas in particular where a lot of these cider makers operate."

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