08/08/2019

Following our recent gold award at the 2019 CAMRA Northern Cider and Perry Championships, we’ve just been awarded bronze at their National Cider and Perry Championships too. This means a lot to us.  People are often surprised when we say there’s no science to our cider making. There’s no secret recipe. All we try and do is make the best of what Nature provides. We care for our orchard and in return it gives us fruit filled with flavour.  Our cider is made slowly, using 100% apple juice, by people who are genuinely passionate about it. We’re just glad that others are enjoying the finished product as much as we do!  Thank you to CAMRA, and to all our customers for your continued support. That’s what allows us to carry on doing what we love.  Tim and Steve, the Cider Makers.

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Why not join us on one of our Orchard Tours to learn more about the Orchard from Tim and Steve?  Click here for upcoming dates.

05/02/2018

We were absolutely thrilled to learn that our Ampleforth Abbey Traditional Still Cider was named runner up in this year’s CAMRA North of England Cider & Perry Competition at the Manchester Beer and Cider Festival last month! Tim Saxby, Orchard Manager at Ampleforth Abbey Drinks, says: “this is a marvellous and unexpected outcome!  To take second place out of 103 entries in the cider class as judged by CAMRA members, a veritable who’s who of the UK real cider scene, is a real honour.” 

Our entry was the 6.5 % Ampleforth Abbey Traditional Cider, cloudy and un-carbonated.  The winning batch was crafted with hand-picked fruit from our traditionally managed orchards in 2016. This was an exceptional year for fruit quality, particularly our Ribston Pippin’s (Yorkshire 1707) with their “flesh pale yellow, firm, crisp, rich and sugary, charged with a powerful aromatic flavour” Robert Hogg 1860. 

18/07/2017

The trees in the Ampleforth Abbey orchard are starting to bend under the weight of this year's bumper crop!  If you are in the area, please do pop in and see us or, even better, check out availability on our guided tours - click here for more information.

01/07/2017

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new flagons of Ampleforth Abbey Orchard Draught Cider, which are only available from our on-site Cider Mill and Abbey Shop.  Our draught cider is medium dry, crafted in small batches with handpicked apples from our traditionally managed orchards.  Come and see us to grab yourself a flagon while stocks last!

19/04/2017

The first blossom has started to show in the Abbey Orchard this week. As we have so many varieties of tree not all of them show blossom at the same time, so it will be some weeks until we start to see the whole Orchard in bloom.

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If you would like to come on a tour please check the dates here.

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19/04/2017

On Thursday 20th April we are holding a tasting session at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. Come and see us from 12pm onwards.

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We will also be visiting The Local Pantry, near Pool in Wharfedale, on Saturday 22nd April from 11am until 2:30pm.

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Do come along and say hello and try a sample!

11/04/2017

We were delighted to welcome Tony Robinson to Ampleforth Abbey Orchard as part of Channel 5's Coast to Coast series. The series follows Tony along the 200 mile Coast to Coast route devised by Alfred Wainwright. When Tony visited Ampleforth Abbey he met with apple enthusiast Tim Saxby, our Orchard Manager, and the pair delved into the Orchard's history which evoked fond memories from Tony's childhood.  Tim also shows Tony how we make our award-winning Ampleforth Abbey Cider. 

Ampleforth features in Episode 5 which will be shown on Channel 5 at 8pm on Good Friday, 14th April.  

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If you miss the live episode you can also catch up online on the Channel 5 website. 

20/03/2017

Due to popular demand we have added an extra tour on Wednesday 10th May at 10:30am. You can enjoy a guided tour of the Abbey Orchard along with tastings and a delicious lunch of soup, sandwiches and apple cake.

For more details please click here.

06/03/2017

The sun has been shining in the Orchard this week and the team have been planting trees. Here Tim and Steve are pictured planting some Herefordshire Russet trees - a new variety for Ampleforth Abbey Orchard.  The trees have been organically produced and the lovely golden apples are harvested in November. The team have also been busy planting some more Ribston Pippin trees which have been grafted here on site. Ribston Pippin is the oldest variety we grow and it originates from a tree grown locally, at Ribston Hall in Knaresborough, in the seventeenth century.

Did you know that the Ribston Pippin contains six times more vitamin C than a Cox's Orange Pippin?

19/01/2017

A brand new guide, showcasing some of the very best artisan producers in North Yorkshire has been launched this week here at Ampleforth Abbey.

From fine photography to exquisitely crafted ales and chocolates, and from pure Yorkshire lavender to contemporary blown glass, the guide to the Yorkshire Coast and North York Moors Artisan Trail directs visitors to 37 of the country’s top artists, craftsmen and food and drink producers, who are all proud to call Yorkshire their home and the inspiration for their products. To learn more please click here.

Photography: chrisbooth.photos

19/01/2017

We are delighted to have welcomed Sarah Cobb as Sales Coordinator for Ampleforth Abbey Drinks. Sarah joined the team at the start of January 2017, having worked in the Development and Marketing Office at Ampleforth Abbey and College for almost two years. You may already recognise Sarah as she has helped on the Abbey Drinks stand at numerous events including the Great Yorkshire Show and Malton Food Lovers Festival.

Sarah is very passionate about the quality and provenance of our produce and she is looking forward to meeting all of our current stockists as well as introducing our range of products to potential new stockists. If you would like to get in touch please email her at abbeydrinks@ampleforth.org.uk.

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We have entered our busiest part of the year here in the Orchard Mill. We are about half way through our orchard harvest and some of the trees are starting to look rather bare as the Autumn season takes hold. If we are not out picking we are in the Orchard Mill pressing and bottling getting ready for the Christmas shows over the next month. We are going to be attending the Harrogate Christmas Market again this year holding a chalet in the main market area. Last year was really successful for us so we are excited to be taking part again. We will also be attending the Beverley Christmas Festival on the 26th November, it will be the first time we have attended the Beverley Market, but have only heard great things and we are really looking forward to it.

We have also secured a number of new stockists this year, take a look at our stockist list to find your closest supplier.

We can't believe how quick this year has gone here at Ampleforth Abbey Drinks, we would like to thank everyone for the support over this year and hope to see you again in 2017.

08/09/2016

The North Yorkshire Cook Book is now on sale in the Abbey Shop and we are thrilled that two of our recipes have been included; the delicious Ampleforth Abbey Beer Burger and our highly acclaimed Ampleforth Apple Cake - both of which are available in the Tea Room.  There is also a profile on Ampleforth Abbey Drinks which is well worth a read.

Featuring over 40 recipes for delicious dishes, this delightful recipe book focuses on flourishing independent food and drink retailers and artisan producers from across North Yorkshire. Learn about local producers and discover how they make their tasty dishes!

The book is both informative and interesting and priced at just £14.95 it makes a wonderful gift.

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Please click here to buy online.

17/08/2016

The Orchard team are very busy this week as the harvest has begun!  

Our earliest ripeners are the Beauty of Bath variety, closely followed by Discovery apples. These apples were picked on Monday and pressed and bottled on Tuesday.  The juice will be available for purchase in the Abbey Shop later this week.

28/07/2016

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded three Great Taste Awards 2016 by the Guild of Fine Foods. The awards and some of the judges' comments were as follows: 

Apple Juice - One Star
"A very good nose, a decent hit of sweet apple back notes of tart Bramleys - well balanced and very fresh."

Premium Cider - One Star
"Very inviting colour, robust and a good level of carbonation. Considering the use of dessert and cooking apples, the judges thought this had surprising depth."

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Apple Liqueur - One Star
"This has a beautiful apple brandy on the nose. Pure fruit and clean sweetness."This would be good as a digestif or even over ice cream. Very quaffable!"

12-14/07/2016

We are excited to once again be part of the Great Yorkshire Show. Come and say hello and try a sample. Find us at Stand 520 in the Food Hall

06/05/2016

The first blossom is starting to show in the Orchard. The Irish Peach is an early season apple and the first of our varieties to bloom. This week we welcomed a group of members of a local Probus club for a tour of the Orchard followed by a tasting session and lunch. Our next Blossom Tours take place on Wednesday 11th May and Wednesday 8th June.  

Click here for more details.

08/02/2016

We were thrilled to receive the news that we have been voted Britain's Favourite Drinks Producer 2015 by the readers of Landlove Magazine. 

Please click here to read more.

05/01/2016

We teamed up with Flavourly Craft Beer Club to offer our Abbey Beer in their Christmas boxes and we have had some fantastic feedback!  Click here to read Dan Burford's blog. 

Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd November 2015

Make sure to pop along and visit Ampleforth at the Harrogate Christmas Market.

Open at 10am until 8pm, except Sunday when it ends at 5pm.

ADMISSION FOR VISITORS IS FREE!

10/11/2015

Make sure to visit our stand at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Christmas Fair at The Durham Ox, Crayke.

Entry £5 includes a glass of Mulled Wine and Mince Pie. All going to a great cause!

05 - 07/11/2015

Visit our stand at the NSPCC Castle Howard Gift Fair on Thursday 5th of November.

Do come along and say hello!

01/10/2015

TWO GOLD STARS!

We're thrilled to announce that both our Traditonal Sparkling Cider and Still Cider were each awarded with a Great Taste Gold Star!

Sunday 4th October

Visit our stand at the Beverley Food Festival on Sunday 4th October.

Entry is free and there will be over 100 stalls offering some of Yorkshire's finest produce.

Do come along and say hello!

31st October 2015

We will be attending the Gilling Castle Gift Fair on Saturday 31st October 2015.   With over 20 stalls including Roseburd Preserves, Emma Bridgewater Pottery, Ampleforth Abbey Shop and Mason's Gin, it should be a fantastic day with opportunity to purchase a few early Christmas gifts! A pop up Ampleforth Abbey Tea Room will be open for refreshments.
Free Entry 10am - 4pm

10th September 2015

Following the success of last year's event, we have once again teamed up with The Talbot Hotel, Malton for a relaxed evening sampling our beer and ciders over a delicious three course dinner on Thursday 10th September.

Tickets are priced at £65 per person

For more information, or to book your place please contact The Talbot Hotel on 01653 639096 or email enquiries@talbotmalton.co.uk
 

25th July 2015

We are excited to announce we will be attending The CLA Game Fair from Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August.

Don't be shy to ask for a sample!

15th July 2015

We are delighted to report that HRH The Prince of Wales visited the Ampleforth Abbey Beer and Cider stand at the Great Yorkshire Show and even tried some of the award-winning cider, saying he found it 'very good'!

Perhaps we will receive an order from Clarence House soon!