Gwatkin Red Cow, Hereford

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Blue Scrumpy left this review about Gwatkin Red Cow

Having visited the now closed Neville Arms in the village of Abbey Dore many years ago and having consumer far too many bottles of the local Gwatkin cider, I have been meaning to make a return trip to the Abbey Dore Farm Shop & Cider Mill (where Gwatkin cider is produced) ever since. The farm is situated a couple of miles to the north of the village of Abbey Dore in open countryside.

The Gwatkin Red Cow is a new venture. More of a restaurant than a bar, you can still find an excellent selection of their ciders served in bag-in-the-box or bottles from the small tasting room at the entrance to the Gwatkin Red Cow.

At the opposite end of the building is a small bar which we passed through but didn't take much notice of.

Gwatkin ciders available from the box were Old Rat's Tale, Foxwhelp, Yarlington Mill, Golden Valley Cider, Silly Ewe, No Bull, Kingston Black, Red Diesel, Stoke Red, Game Cock, Norman Cider, Squeal Pig, Thorn Perry, Farmhouse Perry & Pyder.

Drinkers can use tables on the lawn in front of the Gwatkin Red Cow which overlook a pen containing goats, geese and chickens. Cows and sheep belonging to the farm are also in adjacent fields, whilst another field seemed popular with campers.

At the rear of the site, there is an old Gwatkin's dray and a barn advertising cream teas. But that seemed to be more for storage.

After a couple of ciders, it was time to continue our Herefordshire crawl. However, I couldn't resist returning later in the evening for a couple more ciders and a meal in the Red Cow.

Real ale may well be served. I caught a glimpse of what looked like Butty Bach and the menu certainly mentioned that my steak and gammon pie contained Butty Bach. It may well have been served on draught at the bar.

However first and foremost, this is definitely the place to come if you enjoy a real cider (or two).

On 3^rd May 2023 - rating: 8
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