Rich’s Cider Farm Restaurant and Farm Shop
Contact Details
Rich’s Cider Farm
Watchfield
Highbridge
Somerset
TA9 4RD
Shop/Office – 01278 783 651
Restaurant – 01278 794 537
Website: https://richscider.co.uk
About Us
- Family run business for 70 years
- On site Farm Shop and Cider Press Resturant
- Destination, Family Day out venue
- Ideal venue for Weddings, Events, Conferences
- Only 5 mins from the M5 and Burnham-On-Sea, Somerset
Since 1954, when Gordon Rich founded the business, Rich’s have been making cider using traditional methods. Although this process has remained the same over the years, more recently, the Farm has become a place to spend a day out and a great family-friendly destination for all visitors.
We are a family run business producing traditional farmhouse cider and farm pressed apple juice. We also have a large restaurant, with over 100 seats, that serves fresh locally produced, fresh home cooked food daily, and we have our own on-site Farm Shop where you can buy a wonderful range of local produce as well as our ciders. We’re fully accessible all around the Farm, including the Cider Press Restaurant, the Farm Shop, and our toilet facilities. Find us two miles from junction 22 of the M5, in Watchfield, near Highbridge.
More Information
Visit our farm near Burnham-On-Sea, Somerset, to see us pressing apples in the autumn, have free samples at our farm shop, buy some local produce and gifts to take home and maybe stop for a bite to eat in our Cider Press restaurant.
There is plenty here to enjoy for a family day out, all year round!
Rich's Farm Shop
The Farm Shop is a destination location in its own right! Before you get to the shop you can walk through the Museum, where you can see old machinery, our huge oak vats , which are still in use today – one of them can hold an amazing 10,000 gallons of cider!
Stocking a variety of local, hand-selected products, Rich’s Farm Shop offers a huge range of items ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables, cakes, pies and gifts to clothing and homeware. Also featuring a butchers and deli counter with fresh meats provided by Pyne’s of Somerset, local cheeses, pies, Scotch eggs and much more. The shop includes a takeaway counter seving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, and hot snacks.
There is also an alcohol cellar instore, and a deli counter showcasing local cheeses, pies, Scotch eggs and other delicious products. We’re passionate about supporting local businesses – to learn more about where your shopping is coming from, take a look at our up-to-date displayed ‘local suppliers’ map, which details the locations of many of our wonderful suppliers.
Of course, the Shop also stocks our very own award-winning ciders and apple juices. ‘Try before you buy’ at our Tasting Bar, where you can enjoy free samples of all our ciders.
We’re extremely proud to have won Gold at the 2023 Taste of the West Awards as well as Champion Cider. The judges said it was ‘a pleasure to visit’ us, praising the Shop’s ‘light and airy…lovely atmosphere’ and how ‘nothing is too much trouble for our friendly staff’.
Farm Shop Opening Hours
Monday – Saturday 09:00 – 18:00
Sunday 10:00 – 18:00
The Cider Press Restaurant
Visit Rich’s Cider Press Restaurant where we serve you locally produced, freshly cooked food, daily in our ‘open plan’ kitchen. Here you can watch our cooks busy baking homemade cakes, desserts, pies and all our daily roasts & specials.
As supporters of local farmers and producers we aim to provide you with a ‘True Taste of Somerset’. We serve breakfasts, lunchtime specials, homemade cakes & desserts, cream teas & carvery every day.
The Restaurant has a 4.5-star Trip Advisor rating, and seats 130 inside, with plenty of dog-friendly outdoor seating and a children’s playground. We recommend booking in advance, and Sunday booking is required.
Bookings can be made by telephone, 01278 794 537 or online via our website
Restaurant Opening Hours
Sunday booking is essential and bookings are advised at other times.
Monday – Saturday
Open – 08:30
Close – 16:30
Monday – Saturday
Breakfast 08:30 – 11:00
Lunch
Hot Food & Carvery 12:00 – 15:15
Light Bites 12:00 – 15:45
Sunday (Booking required)
Open 08:30
Close 18:00*
Breakfast – 08:30 – 11:00
Lunch
Hot Food & Carvery – 12:00 – 16:00*
*Please enquire about this week’s last sitting because service times vary
Tours
Tours are available this year! Book a tour with us
You’ll get the chance to take in our orchards, get up close and personal with our enormous working oak vats, and the tour ends with a guided tasting of the full Rich’s Cider product range at our tasting bar with our knowledgeable tour guides!
Tours will be running on Tuesdays and Thursdays, although alternate dates may be added here and there!
Tours will start at 1.30pm and will last about an hour and a half.
Tickets start from just £5 with different variations available, giving you the option to enjoy a pint, carvery, hamper, or cream tea after your tour!
So, if you’d like an insight into how pip turns to pint, join us for a tour, we can’t wait to see you all!
1954
2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Rich’s Cider, Gordon Rich founded the farm back in 1954 at the age of 30, Gordon was known for his famous Farmhouse cider and growing fields of broad beans, peas, & swedes which many would remember hand picking ready to take to the fruit and vegetable markets.Â
Sadly, Gordon passed away back in 1998 and he passed on the business to his youngest Daughter, Jan Rich, who has taken the business from strength to strength. Today we raise a glass of Rich’s cider as it would have been Gordon’s 100th birthday!Â
To honour this significant year, our master cider maker George, who is Gordon’s grandson, has crafted an exciting new product 1954.Â
George can be seen in the photo on the left recreating one of our most memorable images of Gordon. See in the gallery for a photos that shows Gordon next to his 10,000 gallon oak cider vat which he was very proud of, and is still used to mature cider to this day.
In honour of our 70th anniversary this year, our master cider maker George has crafted this exciting new product, 1954.
A blend of beautiful, handpicked Somerset desert apples, pressed, fermented, and packaged here on the Farm, creating a wonderful natural sparkling apple wine.
Not only is this product celebrating our 70th anniversary, but it is a tribute to Gordon Rich, who founded Rich’s Cider all those years ago.
1954 is available to purchase to enjoy at home in our Farm Shop or why not have a glass with us at The Cider Press Restaurant.
Weddings and Events
With the recent development of the Cider Press Restaurant, we’ve expanded our space to cater for a wide variety of occasions. With a heated outdoor canopy and private garden area we have a great variety of spaces for events throughout all seasons. We understand that every event is unique; that’s why we centre everything around you. We provide bespoke solutions and work with you to create a truly unforgettable event.
Our stunning venue features a selection of versatile, multi-function spaces that can accommodate events for anything from 50 to 200 people. We can offer a range of catering options ranging from buffets to barbecues to carveries and hog roasts – we can also adapt our menus to any requests you might have – the Restaurant is ideal for your dream Wedding, work function, celebration or party.
For more information, please contact us to discuss your requirements on 01278 794 537 or online via our website or email events@richscider.co.uk
Rich’s is also very well known for its local events including seasonal Food Fairs and the annual Wassailing in January. Have a look below for more information about these events
