Thatchers Cider is a family-owned

cider Cider ( ) is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom (particularly in the West Country) and the Republic of Ireland. The UK has the world's highest per capita consumption, ...

maker in Sandford, North Somerset, England.

History

The Thatchers company was founded by William Thatcher in 1904. His son Stanley Thatcher, born in 1910, began selling draught cider to pubs in Somerset and the company's presence in the area grew. The company is still family owned and employs around 200 people. In 1992 Martin took over from his father, John Thatcher, as managing director. It has 500 acres of its own orchard, as well as using apples from other growers in the area. Alongside its bush orchards, Thatchers has pioneered a method of growing its apple trees in a hedgerow style. Trained on wires, this enables easier harvesting and also helps to ensure the fruit has the optimum combination of sunlight and rain. It has also led to the development of a new bespoke harvester. At the height of season, Thatchers can press 500 tonnes of apples per day. Thatchers also maintains an exhibition orchard in which over 458 different varieties of apple tree are grown. Many of the traditional ciders produced at Myrtle Farm are matured in 100-year-old oak vats, which gives the cider a distinctive taste. In addition to its cider production, Myrtle Farm is the UK's biggest processor of

blackcurrant The blackcurrant (''Ribes nigrum''), also known as black currant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, whe ...

s, dealing with 90 per cent of the UK's total crop, which it processes on behalf of Ribena.

Sponsorships

Thatchers Cider is available in many sports clubs and events across the South West. They are involved with teams including

Winscombe R.F.C. Winscombe RFC is an English amateur rugby club that is based in the village of Winscombe, somerset. They play at the Winscombe War Memorial Recreation Ground, also known as ''the Rec''. The club has three senior teams, a veterans side and over 4 ...

Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is a professional rugby union club in Bath, Somerset, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. Founded in 1865 as Bath Football Club, since 1894 the club has played at the Recreation Ground in the c ...

Somerset County Cricket Club Somerset County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Somerset. Founded in 1875, Somerset was initially regarded as a minor ...

Bristol Rugby Bristol Bears (officially Bristol Rugby Club or Bristol Rugby) are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 18 ...

, Bristol City, Yeovil Town,

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Gloucestershire. Founded in 1870, Gloucestershire have always ...

, Bristol Rovers,

Plymouth Argyle F.C Plymouth Argyle Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the team are competing in League One, the third tier of English football. They have played at Home Park, ...

, Exeter City and Torquay United. Thatchers are also involved in many local events and festivals including:

Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...

, Royal Bath and West Show, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and Cambridge Folk Festival. Thatcher's lost their ongoing cider sponsorship of the Glastonbury festival in 2019 to Mallets cider.

TV advertisements

Thatchers aired on national TV with ''Time Stops'' in 2015, with the concept of showcasing the 12:30 pm tasting that happens every Friday at Myrtle Farm.

References

External links

Thatchers Cider official website
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History

Sponsorships

TV advertisements

See also

References

External links