News / Awards
Bristol Cider Shop named best in UK
The much-loved Bristol Cider Shop on the Christmas Steps, a tiny gem of a place with an ever-growing reputation, has won Independent Cider Retailer of the Year at the prestigious Drinks Retailing Awards 2015.
In the four years since opening, owner Pete Snowman says that the shop has become somewhat of a tourist destination. “We had people last week come down from Edinburgh to Bristol just to visit the shop. We’re a bit of a haven for cider aficionados everywhere.”
Everything they sell is made within 50 miles of Bristol and made from 100 per cent juice.
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“We are a showcase for local award-winning cider makers,” Pete says proudly. “And we do anything and everything to do with cider – cider, cider brandy, cider chutney, cider vinegar, cider books, cider CDs, cider mugs…”
Behind its small exterior, Bristol Cider Shop is integral to the Bristol cider sphere, supplying around 30 Bristol pubs – especially those who take their cider seriously – including the Star & Dove in Totterdown, the Royal Navy Volunteer on King Street and The Christmas Steps only a hundred yards away.
The shop has also recently opened their own cider tasting room. “We’re one of the only places in the country where you can do a proper cider tasting,” Pete explains. “We do a big tasting of about 15 different ciders and we go through everything from scrumpy, to champagne-style cider, to cider brandy.”
And then there is the hugely popular annual sausage and cider festival. This year’s event will as usual take place over the May bank holiday weekend, with tickets going on sale next week.
“This is our fifth year of the festival and it gets bigger every year,” says Pete. “This year I’m delighted to say that we’re moving to the Trinity Centre, so it will be much bigger. We’ll have about 50 types of cider, loads of bands, and loads of fun and games.”
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