Pair's cider named one of best tipples

THESE Topsham cider makers are celebrating after winning a national award for one of their creations.

Green Valley Cyder, run by Chris Coles and Nick Pring at Dart's Farm, had its Farmhouse Vintage Cider named the Gold National Champion of the Cider and Perry Competition by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Chris, from Sowton, set up the business with Nick 19 years ago.

He said: "We're thrilled. Camra's a consumer organisation and they're very particular about how cider is made. They only judge real cider.

"It's minimally processed — basically, fermented apple juice that's been racked once and had no further processing. It's a serious little number at 8.3 per cent.

"It's one you want to be drinking with a meal in a small glass.

"We have a little orchard we're very fond of in Woodbury Salterton, and we're using those apples to make this cider."

The pair were celebrating with Caroline Cheffers-Heard, landlady of the Bridge Inn at Topsham.

Caroline won a Camra award for running one of the most-featured pubs in the Good Beer Guide.