The Cider Tap, Haywards Heath

The bar, shop and dining room can be found in some converted farm buildings, but if the weather is any good then the very pleasant country garden area is the place to go. Up to 16 ciders available on tap, although - slightly surprisingly - only one of these is actually from their own Wobblegate range. Five draught keg beers were also available on my visit, with three from Lakedown - Sussex Goose pale ale (£7.00), Silverdale Pilsner and Zoot Suit - along with Small Beer's IPA and Guinness.

Official site of The Cider Tap - www.wobblegate.co.uk

Official site of The Cider Tap - www.wobblegate.co.uk

Visited 03/08/24 Been meaning to visit this venue for a while so we decided to make it our destination on a Saturday evening. This is the taproom of Wobblegate Orchards and is approached and well signposted off the main road via a narrow track but a proper road surface (unlike some of the tracks to these rural taprooms)! There is ample parking. The venue is open midday to 9pm Thurs to Sat and Sun midday to 6pm. The main attraction (at least in half decent weather) seems to be sitting outside in the beer garden at the front on the traditional picnic benches. The small bar with tap wall behind is immediately inside the front door and there is a narrow gap either side to get to the well-stocked shop on the left-hand side or some seating on the right-hand side. The interior is quite narrow and queuing at the bar consists of forming a line out the front door rather than standing at the bar! Seating inside consists of a long wooden banquette with a cushion along the same wall as the taps with tables and metal chairs and then small, reclaimed tables for two with the same chairs along the glass front looking out to the beer garden. The other attraction here seemed to be the stone baked pizzas, and which were, from our choices, most excellent. The tap wall had around 20 taps, serving four of their own brewed on the premises still and sparkling ciders, nine, mostly still, other ciders and a couple of low alcohol beers from Merakai. The non-cider quaffs were a couple from local brewery Bolney Brew Co (their Larger Than Life pilsner and their Two Hands Pale Ale), Guinness, Siren Sound Wave IPA and Lakedown Island Sound pale ale. Enjoyed the visit here, but feels like a summer destination as the barn doesn't accommodate many seated if the outside area is out of action for weather reasons. Also, only viable as a venue by driving here. Definitely will return though.