Caerphilly Cider Producer Shortlisted In Radio 4 Food And Farming Awards

A Caerphilly cider producer has been shortlisted in this year’s Best Drinks Producer category of the Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards, being the only Welsh producer to be nominated for the award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hallets Real Cider, made by Annie and Andy Hallett on their farm in Crumlin, was placed in the top 3 of the award category after battling it out against hundreds of other drinks producers from throughout the UK.. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The small batch producers initially started the business as a hobby, which soon developed into the successful business it is today. Hallets Real Cider have also benefitted in the past with supported from Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd’s Rural Development programme, which was financed through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development by the Welsh Government and the EU. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “Congratulations to Hallets Real Cider on being shortlisted for Best Drinks Producer in the Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards. I am delighted that a local producer which has received previous support from the Cwm a Mynydd Rural Development Programme has been recognised for the excellent quality of their craft cider”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andy Hallett said: “This is surreal and fantastic. The traditional techniques we use take time, but are worth it for the quality. It’s wonderful to be recognised for the work that goes into making our cider taste so special.”
He continued: “This is such a prestigious national award, we hope to do Wales proud and show that there is real talent in the Welsh cider community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hallets ‘beautifully simple’ cider is made with juice from cider apples, some of which is aged in whisky, sherry or rum barrels. The range of draught and bottled ciders is available in bars across the UK including The Bunch of Grapes, The Hop Bunker and The Pen and Wig, all in Wales, or directly from the farm www.halletsrealcider.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in Bristol on 28 April. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​