NOT TO BE MISSED: Sheppy’s House of Cider will once again be celebrating the ancient cidermaking ritual of Wassail on Thursday 17th January, with lots of chanting, dancing, fire, music and plenty of award-winning cider.

This is an important night in the cidermaking calendar which celebrates the ancient ritual of orchard wassailing. This Somerset tradition is an important part of cidermaking heritage as it chases away the ‘evil spirits’ in the orchard, awakens the benevolent ones, and ensures a plentiful harvest.

The ingredients for a good wassail are noise, fire, guns, hot cider and plenty of people to sing and shout the ancient wassail songs. There will be food and drink available, with music from local folk band Fresh Aire and traditional Morris dancing from the Taunton Deane Morris Men to round off the night. With over 300 attendees last year, the Sheppy’s Cider team are hoping this will be another well attended event with plenty of enthusiastic noise-makers and cider fans.

Tickets will not be available on the night so make sure to book in advance if you’d like to take part in this piece of Somerset cidermaking history. This special occasion only happens once a year and is not to be missed by any cider fan!

Tickets are on sale now on Eventbrite or at the House of Cider shop, with sales supporting St. Margaret's Somerset Hospice. Ticket prices start from £6.