Alan Dearling visits a new cider company making an original range of ciders and more in the English-Scottish borderlands
I’ve known Phil Elliott for well over a decade since his Peel Walls’ cider-making days outside the village of Ayton in Berwickshire. He’s a larger than life character. He looks the part of an artisan scrumpy farmer, or, a butcher, brewer or baker, come to think of it. I think he’s actually worked in all those professions.
He’s now a year into commercial cider-making under the
Monkey House Cider moniker, working from adapted, and totally legal, premises at the rear of his home in Berwick-upon-Tweed. It’s an impressive craft set up. I arrived late morning and soon rolled up my sleeves and joined his team of Bill, John and Joe – and became a part of the Cider ‘A’ Team. I’m not called ‘Cider Alan’ for nothing!