A HEREFORD museum celebrating one of the county's most famed industries has reopened after more than a year of closure.

The Museum of Cider was re-opened on May 24 by the new Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Paul Stevens, accompanied by former mayor, Coun Kath Hey and welcomed by museum director Elizabeth Pimblett.

This was Coun Stevens' first appointment in his new role, particularly apt as he is keenly aware of the importance of apple and cider tourism to Hereford.

Also attending the ribbon cutting ceremony were local craft cider makers from the Three Counties Cider and Perry Association, Fenella Tyler trustee and CEO of the National Association of Cidermakers, conservator Catriona Ward and Coun Diana Toynbee.

The museum has been closed since April 2020 and sadly during this time the unique champagne cider cellars were badly affected by a water leak, but after much work it is welcoming visitors once again.

The industrial heritage objects are conserved and back on display and the team has managed to make the most of the time to improve the appearance of some areas, displays and the shop.

As part of the re-opening ceremony, the mayor hung a ‘lucky horseshoe’ back where it used to be in the 1920s H.P Bulmer Ltd Boardroom. This was kindly donated to the museum by Sophie Morgan, who was the first booked visitor through the door.