HEREFORDSHIRE’S homegrown cider and perry enterprise founded by Ivor and Susie Dunkerton nearly 40 years ago is taking a major step across the county border to become Gloucestershire’s biggest cidery.

Ivor’s son, Julian, co-founder of multi-million pound enterprise Superdry, is relocating the business from Pembridge to purpose-built quarters near Cheltenham in order to expand.

It was in 1980 that the late Ivor Dunkerton, a former BBC producer and director, and his wife launched their organic cider business at Bearwood. The launch of Julian’s new cidery and shop, Dunkertons Organic Cider Company at Dowdeswell Park in Charlton Kings will celebrate the enterprise’s 30-year Soil Association certification while also honouring the founders who pioneered the production of organic cider and perry in the UK.

Said Julian: “The move facilitates our future growth plans which includes creating new ciders and exporting to further overseas territories.” He explained that the new site has a purpose-built shop for cider fans to buy their product as well as booking cider tours and tastings.

“Myself and Jeremy Benson, managing director of Dunkertons Cider, are very much excited to be sharing this with the public very soon.” The official opening takes place next Friday, August 31.

His father moved to the smallholding with his teenage sons, Martin and Julian, his 90-year-old mother and Susie, his second wife. The farm was stocked with three goats, two cows, two pigs, 20 sheep and a donkey, and after Ivor’s resignation from his award-winning job in television, the family turned to cider-making for an income. An important acquisition was an abandoned hydraulic apple press for £100, and the business was launched.

Julian said the business continued to operate with the same environmental values adopted by his father and step-mother.

“From the outset, they placed environmental values at the heart of their vision and set about making a unique cider, while operating in a similar fashion to a vineyard,” he said. “The process of making the cider is unique, from the selection of the traditional fruit varieties through to the finished bottle of hand blended cider and perry.” Fruit continues to be grown in certified organic orchards, he added.

As well as holding organic status for their orchards, the company also sponsors the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, working to halt the decline and improve the prospects of orchard habitats across the UK.

*There will be a limited number of free tickets for the launch event using a ballot-style registration system by going to https://www.dunkertonscider.co.uk/dunkertons-organic-cidery-celebration/