CIDER and perry makers from across the globe are being invited to bid for the top prizes at one of the biggest competitions in the industry.

The Hereford Cider Museum is holding its Annual International Cider and Perry Competition and organisers are expecting an excellent crop of entries.

Museum director Margaret Thompson said: “It is a brilliant competition. It has grown over the years from 10 or 15 entries in the early 1980s to over 200 entries last year. In just six or seven years the number of entries has doubled.

“It is an open competition and a lot of the entries come from the three counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. We also have them from Somerset and Devon and we are getting a lot from Wales now.

“We have also had entries from the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Finland. We have had a lot of inquiries from abroad.”

There are 12 classes in this year’s competition and entries close on Friday April 24. The judging, which involves two teams of judges, takes place on Wednesday May 13 and the awards ceremony takes place at 3pm at the museum on the same day. Entry forms can be from the museum’s website www.cidermuseum.co.uk

Mrs Thompson said each cider and/or perry maker is restricted to one entry per category apart from Class 12 for the best presented packaged cider or perry. This focuses on whether the cider and perry makers present their products so they grab the customer’s attention.

She said there has been a surge in craft cider making in the past 15 years. “They are a passionate about their craft and a competitive group of cider makers. The quality and consistency of their ciders are excellent.

“The competition is a lot of work but we enjoy it. At the museum we are preserving the history of cider making and we want to promote the industry.

“Being out there promoting them and the friendly rivalry is very rewarding for us. They are fantastic to work with and they are so passionate.”

Mrs Thompson added that years ago cider was perceived as the poor man’s drink but in the past 10 years it has been elevated. “It is a fashionable drink and sought out,” she said.

For more information about the Hereford Cider Museum Pomona Place, Hereford, ring 01432 354207 or visit the museum’s website.

• Hereford Cider Museum is a charity and was founded in 1973 to preserve the history of cider making worldwide. The extensive collection includes cider mills, presses, bottles, old photographs, watercolours, advertising memorabilia and a rare collection of English lead crystal cider flutes.

• The museum continues to collect artefacts associated with the history of cider making and has achieved accreditation status - awarded by the Arts Council, England - for its standards of care applied to the collection.

• It aims to inspire and educate the public about the past, present and future of the cider and perry industry by caring for and interpreting the material culture and heritage of the industry.

• It also supports the arts in general for the benefit of the local community of Hereford.