In recent years the branch has moved from holding a vote for its Cider Pub of the Year (CPotY) at a branch meeting to visiting a number of shortlisted cider pubs, and then voting after those visits. It’s the same way that the branch Pub of the Year (PotY) is selected.

The branch is fortunate to have a number of pubs selling high quality real cider. CAMRA recently strengthened the definition of real cider, principally ruling out the use of concentrated apple juice. This means that a number of pubs can no longer be considered to offer real cider, mainly those that only sold ciders from Westons and Thatchers. Nevertheless, a shortlist of four pubs was agreed: the Albion, Hastings; the Brickmaker’s Alehouse, Bexhill; the Jolly Fisherman, Hastings and the Waterworks, Rye. The strength of this shortlist is borne out by the fact that two previous winners of the Branch CPotY award, the Tower, St. Leonards and the George in Hailsham, could not get onto the shortlist this time.

Despite the best efforts of Storm Eunice to put us off, causing a one-week postponement, a group of members visited all four pubs, by public transport, on 26th February. An eclectic mix of ciders were enjoyed at all four locations. Ciders from Sussex and Kent, including from Ascension, Hunts of Sedlescombe, Nightingale and Wise Owl were enjoyably sampled, as well as ciders from further away, such as Celtic Marches (Worcester), Pulpt (Somerset) and Ross-on-Wye!



Sampling and scoring in Waterworks, Rye

Scoring is based on the same principles as the PotY vote with a number of categories to ensure the breadth and depth of the pub and cider offer was tested. Quality of cider as well as knowledge and promotion of the product carry a premium weighting. Not that we had to worry about any quality issue as the scores at all four pubs exceeded Good Beer Guide standards.



A likely looking bunch outside the Albion in Hastings

The results were close but there has to be a winner, so this year the award went to the Waterworks in Rye with the Brickmaker’s Alehouse, Bexhill, a very close runner-up. The current holder of the award, the Jolly Fisherman in Hastings, was only a few points behind. In summary, it was an enjoyable day visiting four welcoming pubs to sample some familiar and unusual ciders. Members from other branches should always find something of interest should they visit any of them.

Phil Packham