Whin Hill Norfolk Cider is a small farm-to-table company located in the heart of Wells-next-the-Sea. Mark and Lisa, the owners, are dedicated to producing full-bodied cider, distinctive perry and refreshing apple juice from quality ingredients using meticulously high production standards.
The cider apples and perry pears used are nurtured in their own orchards located in Stanhoe just a stones throw from the coast. The North Norfolk climate and rich, fertile Norfolk soils allow for an unrivalled quality of fruit which is harvested every Autumn.
All of their ciders, perries and juices are made from natural ingredients and contain no added water, flavourings or artificial sweeteners. Their fruit juices are unfiltered and pasteurised at low temperatures to retain the maximum apple flavour.
They have won several awards at beer & cider festivals and in national & regional competitions.
The ciderworks and retail shop are situated on the Stearmans Yard car park in the centre of town.
If you’re visiting Wells, be sure to drop by and sample the goods!
In 1993 friends Jim Fergusson and Pete Lynn started making cider from spare apples from the garden.
From these humble beginnings, they decided to establish their own orchard, and in 1994 purchased 1000 real cider apple trees. After searching for several months, they finally secured a plot of land in Stanhoe, just some 10 miles from their base in Wells.
Three years later they purchased a beautiful 18th century barn and outbuildings in the centre of Wells. The premises were ideal, with plenty of space for production facilities and storage coupled with a good sized area for retail.
For 18 years, Jim and Pete grew Whin Hill Norfolk Cider into a thriving business with a loyal customer base.
They both retired in April 2012 and passed the reins over to Mark and Lisa Jarvis who continue to run the business with the same emphasis on high quality and service.
The shop is conveniently located right next to the main town car park in Stearmans Yard.
They sell a wide range of products ranging from 11 different ciders, perry and apple juices to their own cider vinegar, plus a smooth but potent Apple spirit (brandy) and fresh honey harvested from the bees kept in their orchard.
There’s plenty of seating within the courtyard and garden where you can taste some free samples or enjoy your purchases.
The shop is open from Easter through until the end of October, daily throughout July and August, weekends only in the shoulder months.
You can also visit their website and buy online.
From the end of September through to Easter, the shop closes and the premises becomes a full-on production facility to turn the year’s bumper crop of fruit into the cider, perry and apple juice that will be sold the following year!
The orchard is located in the rural Norfolk village of Stanhoe, about 10 miles South West of the ciderworks in Wells. They have 10 acres of cider apple trees and a further 3 acres of apples suitable for juicing.
They currently grow 8 varieties of cider apple tree including Dabinett, Michelin, Ashton Bitter, White Jersey, Browns Apple, Major, Ellis Bitter and Kingston Black.
In addition, they have 153 perry pear trees and a dozen old traditional Norfolk varieties for fun!
Not content with producing an annual crop of quality fruit from their orchard, Mark and Lisa aim to provide a natural, sustainable habitat with a rich biodiversity with many different species of flora and fauna.
They have planted more than 2000 individual native trees and shrubs around the orchard, and there’s an abundance of beautiful, wild meadow flowers that carpet the orchard in a dazzling array of colours.
There’s a number of nest boxes within the canopy cover of the orchard and shelter belts used by tits, finches and a tawny owl.
They also have large colonies of Bumble and solitary bees as well as their own hives of Honey Bees kept on the orchard that pollinate the apple blossom each Spring.
Finally, there’s a pond with frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies.
