Jim's Cider Shack, Aller, Langport

Tucked away down a small country lane, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to just stumble across by accident, but it is nonetheless just a couple of minutes’ drive off the main A road between Bridgwater and Langport, and is sign-posted at the junction with a large cider barrel (or at least, what appears to be a cider barrel – it’s actually a lump of solid concrete, as the wooden ones that were there kept getting nicked apparently). Visually it looks a little more like a barn perhaps as opposed to your traditional pub, with a large gravelled car park in front which also forms part of the beer garden with the provision of a few picnic benches, with further outdoor seating in the adjacent courtyard. This does seem to be more of a warm weather destination perhaps, with the inside space being rather limited. The main bar is quite small, with quarry style tiling on the floor, a bar counter at a 45° in the corner taking up much of the available floor space, as well as a table of cakes and other snacks for sale. Rough hewn boards were on the walls whilst a couple of exposed brick pillars lent it a somewhat rustic feel. Adjacent to this was a slightly larger room, with flagstones on the floor and a sloping roof, again clad with rough sawn timber and a couple of farming related pictures on the walls. Off of this was another small room with broadly similar décor, as well as a selection of jugs hanging from the ceiling, a wood burning stove and a TV up on the wall which felt a little out of place perhaps, although fortunately it was not in use on our visit, as well as an old Adge Cutler record. The pub also has a shop attached with their ciders available both direct from the barrel and bottled, as well as various merchandise such as glassware, etc. The landlord was a friendly chap, even if he did initially admonish me for wearing a Thatcher’s tee shirt, and was keen to find out how we had heard about the venue and tell us a little of it’s history. Apparently he’s a dairy farmer and still has some cows, but his son-in-law was keen to get in to cider making and they have now won several awards at the Bath & West show. It was extensively refurbished during lockdown including the addition of a function room and much improved toilets, and this, along with the coffee and cake selection, is a deliberate move to entice more partners to the pub, reasoning that if they are happy with the facilities, their husbands can stay longer drinking cider! The solitary beer on tap was the local Parkway Brewing’s Norwegian Blue, although this is clearly more of a cider pub with the available options all being their own – Goldrush in medium, dry and sweet varieties, plus Polden Delicious. Overall, a cracking little pub and well worth tracking down.

Facebook page of Bere Cider Company - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Bere Cider Company - www.facebook.com

Official site of Bere Cider Company - www.berecidercompany.com

Official site of Bere Cider Company - www.berecidercompany.com