Thatchers celebrates key milestone amid bumper year

Thatchers' orchard manager Chris Muntz-Torres says this year has been perfect for growing the best cider apples

A world-famous cider brand is celebrating a landmark moment this autumn with its 120th harvest.

Thatchers Cider, based at Myrtle Farm, near Churchill, Somerset, remains a family-run business, with five generations taking a leading role in the company.

Bosses say the key to their success has been experimenting with different species of trees, and they now grow 458 varieties.

Chris Muntz-Torres, orchard manager, said this year's "mix of weather", with plenty of rain followed by bursts of warm sunshine, has been "exactly what our apples needed".

He added: “It’s helped the fruit ripen slowly and develop the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, ready to be pressed into our award-winning ciders.”

The news comes on National Apple Day, celebrated across the UK on 21 October 2024, which pays tribute to the heritage and diversity of apple varieties grown across the country.

Thatchers Cider's Shiplate orchard is thriving this year

Apples entering the 'apple spa', ready to be cleaned

According to Thatchers, their exhibition orchard is home to one of the largest collections of cider apples in the UK.

Since 2010, the cidermakers have planted more than 158,000 new trees with another 13,000 planned for next year.

Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker, said the recent weather has been the "perfect environment" for apple varieties such as Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak.

"Cider apples love a mild autumn," he said. "The rain has been a blessing for the trees, while the late summer sun has boosted the fruit’s natural sugars, giving our ciders their distinctive depth and character.”