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Review of Kentish Pip's first Canterbury cider festival

This weekend is Kentish Pip's first ever cider festival.

With apple bobbing, beverage tasting, DJ sets and an eating competition, reporter Megan Carr went to see what the Canterbury based celebration had to offer.

Megan Carr at the Kentish Pip Cider Festival
Megan Carr at the Kentish Pip Cider Festival

Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne is home to the award-winning Kentish Pip cider.

It's first ever festival is taking place this weekend in celebration of local produce.

I arrived at 2pm for the cider tour.

Hosted by Freddie O'Sullivan the in-depth explanation was a blast.

Not only was it full of crazy scientific facts - who knew apple trees were so particular - but also humorous.

Freddie was a great host that made the tour welcoming and engaging.

Freddie O'Sullivan hosted the Kentish Pip cider tour
Freddie O'Sullivan hosted the Kentish Pip cider tour

Learning about the work that goes into one of the county's most popular alcoholic drinks was fascinating.

Not only that but I also discovered that Bella Gavriilidis, Kentish Pip cider's marketing manager, had managed to put on a festival alongside the tour just a few months after starting at the company.

Guests were taught all about the different types of apple that go into making the alcoholic beverage.

We even got to taste the drink in its raw form, which might be a favourite to some but an odd taste to others!

Our tour concluded with a taste test of Kentish Pip's top sellers.

Megan Carr holding samples of Kentish Pip cider in its raw form
Megan Carr holding samples of Kentish Pip cider in its raw form
Inside Kentish Pip's cider making facilities
Inside Kentish Pip's cider making facilities

These were the High Diver, Skylark, Vintage and Forager beverages, all divine in their own ways.

After our tour I and the other guests returned to the cider festival which was full of live music and tasty food stalls that sold everything from BBQ food to sweet fudge and brownie treats.

Available to buy were draught ciders from Woolton’s favourite UK producers, local cask ales, craft beer and a unique selection of ciders to buy by the bottle.

For those wanting to produce their own refreshment, Woolton are also offering community apple pressing tomorrow, from 10am -12pm.

If you get hungry a wood fired BBQ from Woolton resident Saffa Bru Kitchen will be serving up his South African fare cooked fresh over a wood-fired BBQ.

Kentish Pip cider, Forager
Kentish Pip cider, Forager

The menu choices include gourmet burgers and hot dogs with loaded fries and slaw.

Woolton staff, from the car park helpers to the bar tenders and even those welcoming you to the event, are ever so friendly and always happy to answer your questions.

The Cider Festival welcomes all the family and is dog-friendly.

To book a ticket to the Woolton Farm Cider Festival click here.

Tomorrow, on Sunday October 2, the event is open from 11am until 9pm.

Entry is £5 and includes a souvenir etched glass to take home.

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