We had the pleasure of catching up with Noddy from Noddy’s Cider ahead of his appearance at Apple Day at Symondsbury Estate on Sunday 26th October. He’ll be there doing live apple pressings – and trust us, it’s a treat for all the senses!
Noddy’s journey into cider-making began around ten years ago as a hobby that slowly blossomed into a thriving business.
“It all began when I picked some local apples, and a friend brought round an old garden shredder and a small apple press. I asked him, ‘What do you do with this shredder?’ and he said, ‘Smash all the apples up with it!’ I thought, what a great idea.”
That first batch made just a gallon of cider.
“My boys tried it and said, ‘Dad, this is really nice – why don’t you make more?’. So off we went, knocking on doors, asking people if we could take their apples. We’d give them some cider in return. You’ve never seen such a wonderful glow on someone’s face as when they get cider back made from their own apples – it’s a beautiful thing.”
From there, things grew. Noddy built his own wooden apple press, affectionately named “Big Bertha”, and produced about 220 litres of cider.
“It took me forever – I was doing it every day. I looked like Popeye by the end of it!”
Encouraged by his sons, Noddy took his cider to a local fair.
“We made £80 over the weekend. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was the joy of it – taking something that you thought was worth nothing and turning it into something that people actually wanted. I was so proud. That was the day I caught the cider bug.”
As cider production began to take over the family home, his wife kindly suggested he find a separate space.
“I started renting an old parlour – it’s freezing in winter, boiling in summer, but it’s perfect. Now I make around 10,000 litres of cider a year, using 15 to 18 tonnes of apples. We’ve upgraded to a hydro press – it runs on water, no electricity!”
And it’s not just cider anymore.
“People bring me their apples and I bottle the juice for them using my pasteuriser. They give the bottles to their grandchildren at Christmas – the adults have cider, and the kids have their very own apple juice. It’s lovely.”
Despite being officially retired, Noddy’s days are far from quiet.
“I was pressing apples all day yesterday with my wife and son. The smell – it’s just heavenly. Sweet and autumnal. I love it.”
And his legacy is clearly in safe hands.
“My youngest son Harry will be taking over from me now. It’s been such a journey – last time we went to Symondsbury, it was a brilliant day. We took ‘Big Bertha’, and the kids loved smashing apples before putting them into the press. We’ll be doing it all again this year!”
So don’t miss Noddy and Big Bertha at Apple Day, Symondsbury Estate, Sunday 26th October from 11am – 2pm. Bring the kids, bring your apples, and have a go – it’s a whole lot of fun.
“If you know anyone who needs their apples to be squashed – give me a ring!”
