Please note: Due to a possible train strike on the Southeastern Network on Saturday 26th August, tickets to Brogdale Cider Festival that are not used on this day can be used on Sunday 27th August instead.
We are proud to announce exciting details of what’s happening at Brogdale Cider festival 2023! Join us for a memorable experience, indulge in a variety of ciders from around Kent, whilst grooving away to live music from popular local bands. We have an array of amazing food and drink on offer plus lots of free family fun! BOOK TICKETS HERE
Brogdale Cider Festival 2023 is a great day out for adults with tons of cider and music for a knees up, and we’ve made sure there’s lots to keep kids of all ages entertained too (and all included in your ticket price). From a bouncy castle, facepainting and festival games, teddy parachuting and trifle eating competition to educational (and fun) ukulele classes, crafts, cooking and juice making workshops and loads more.
We have 3 music stages and some fun and interactive acts for children. Top of the bill are the bands, many of which are local favourites with a mix of classics, covers, tributes, rock and roll, jazz, jive, swing, country, folk and original twists on pop music, there’s something for everyone! Headliners are Hullabaloo, The 286 and Certified Madness all guaranteed to get you dancing or toe tapping! TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
In Brief
Event: Brogdale Cider Festival: a cider music festival
Date: Sat 26th and Sun 27th August 2023 (Bank Holiday Weekend)
Type: Music and family-friendly fun festival
Suitable for: Cider drinkers, families and music lovers
Location: Brogdale Farm, Faversham Kent, ME13 8XZ
Time: 10am – 5pm
Price: £35 for family ticket (2 adults and 2 children 3-15 years). Adult £15 (16 years+). £13 Concessions. Child £5 (3-15 years). Free for under 3s.
Included in your ticket: Free guided orchard tours, tastings, kids activities, workshops, overnight parking and a shuttle bus from Faversham Station!
Shuttle bus: Running from Faversham mainline station at regular intervals throughout the weekend. Approximately 4 buses per hour from 10am. The last bus returns to the station at 5pm!
Program – a digital version of all events and timings will be available nearer the time!
Our Music
We have a fantastic line up for you on our stages this year!
Saturday 26th August
The 286 – 7-piece band with a fantastic mix rock and roll riffs with cellos and violins to create an all unique sound.
Gone Country – Country music only more fun!
Ionasphere – modern covers with perfect harmony
Outskirt – brand new band
Pete’s Corner Big Band – 22-piece Dutch Jazz group.
Rock Choir – the largest contemporary choir in the UK.
Tim Edey – BBC Radio Two’s Folk Awards Best Musician of the Year and multi-award winning guitarist.
Sunday 27th August
Beard Conspiracy – fast paced tango, classical and klezmer with an eclectic blend of contemporary classics.
Bread and Butter Duo – fun, high energy covers duo, buttering tunes from past to present complete with audience dressing up box.
Certified Madness – a nutty tribute band from Kent.
Hullabaloo – a fantastic 4-piece jazz-swing, rock n roll, party popband.
Let’s Go Clubbing – fun two person juggling show charting a journey through the history of club music starting with Disco up to the modern day.
Native Oysters Band – playing traditional second line classics and originals through to full on 70’s funk.
Rhythm Fish – one of Kent’s finest covers bands.
Samba Pelo Mar – Whitstable’s community Samba band playing uplifting and dynamic Samba with traditional samba drums and percussion instruments.
Our Cider Producers
Showcasing some of the best and award-winning cider producers from in and around Kent. Over 40 artisan and specialist ciders to taste. Vote for your favourite to win a cider hamper!
Biddenden Vineyard – winner of Cider of the Year at this year’s Taste of Kent Awards. Come and try their award-winning Ice Cider made from Kentish grown Egremont Russet and Bramley apples.
Brogdale Cider – Brogdale makes it’s own delicious ciders and juices from the Heritage Fruits at Brogdale Farm. Wholly Pig Dry, Medium, Pear of Pigs, Curious Brew lager and cold Brogdale. Pressed in the traditional manner on their twin-bed rack and cloth press. Cider demos also available.
Hernhill Cider – small batches of traditional Kentish cider made using only freshly pressed juice from their own small orchard.
Kent Cider Company – great variety of traditional & dry to cloudy apple or real fruit ciders such as Rhubarb or Lemon. Voted winner of Brogdale’s Cider Trail for four years in a row now with Rhubarb (twice), Yowler and most recently with their real fruit Lemon cider in 2022.
Kentish Pip – their ambition is to create outstanding cider with immpeccable core values. Carefully pairing apple varieties with cultured yeast including wine and champagne yeasts to promote its distinct flavour.
Longtail Cider – made from apples grown in orchards in north west Kent, fermented with wild yeasts.
Mad Cat Brewery – will be opening their bar here at Brogdale and serving their craft beers made with Kent hops. Tours of their brewery are also available.
Turners Cider – awarded Muddy Stillettos Award for Best Food and Drink Producer in Kent 2023.
Wise Owl Cider – award-winning Medium Lightly Sparkling Cider, Dry Cider, Pear Cider and even fruiter flavours, cherry, Mango, Strawberry, Blood Orange and Blueberry. The secret to Wise Owl Cider is a blend of 8 different varieties of apples all grown and harvested locally.
Non cider lovers we have you covered with a range of cocktails and other alcoholic and non alcholic drinks available.
Our Kids Activities
There’s so much for children of all ages and all included in your ticket price!
Ralphus The Undead Poet – the world’s greatest zombie poet will be performing family comedy and amazing story-telling – not to be missed!
Ukulele Class – fun, have-a-go sessions for beginners with Learn Ukulele East Kent.
Willow Crafts – decorate a beautiful wand or crown to take home with you.
Apple Juicing – learn how apple juice is made as you help in the process to create and taste fresh juice.
Wild Classroom – help make seasonal dishes over the campfire.
Face Painting – choose your fabulous look with paint and glitter!
Tractor Rides – hop onboard the trailer and have a ride round the orchards.
Meet Reptiles – get up close with snakes, lizards and reptiles (if you are brave enough).
Giant Kites and Teddy Parachuting – watch and fly the magnificent kits and bring a teddy so they can experience parachuting!
Bouncy Castle – the large pirate ship is back!
Trifle Eating Competition – for kids and big kids, prizes to be won!
Festival Games – lots of fun games to take part in!
Juggling Show and Workshop – watch the exciting performance and then learn the tricks
Bee Exhibition – learn all about our friends the bees.
Seed Swap – take seeds home to plant in your garden.
Animal corner – come and see some farm animals.
Plus, the Miniature Railway – take a ride around the orchards. Run by Faversham Miniture Railway volunteers, a small donation of £1 per person goes towards the upkeep of the trains and track.
Our Food
We have delicious range of pop up food and drink stalls including Raymondo’s shaved ice, waffles and snow cones, Godmersham Grills burgers, Specs and Bear raclette and hot dogs, Tonibell dairy and vegan icecream, The Thirsty Farrier cocktails, Foxy’s Wood-fired pizza, Dunk homemade cookies, Naked Espresso coffee, The Greedy Hog and Cheesemaker of Canterbury
Our Tours
Discover the delights of the National Fruit Collection with a free Guided Orchard Tour with one of our knowledgable guides. Taste some apples, pears and plums. Tours run throughout the day and our fun tractor trailer tours are also available.
Wonky Parsnip – grow weird and wonderful produce here at Brodgale – find out all about them on a tour or watch a live demo.
Our Craft Stalls
Shop at our craft stalls selling a range of handemade goodies, including wood carvings, pottery, candles, pictures, toys, jewellery, accessories, customised gifts and more!
We also have the Glambulance – a converted ex ambulance in to a mobile beauty salon for nails, and some extra special pampering for adults and kids!
Our Purpose
We aim to bring you a family-fun festival on Faversham’s famous Brogdale Farm. Brought to you by Brogdale Collections, a charity working to provide public access and education about the National Fruit Collection. Brogdale Collections have managed visitor access to the National Fruit Collection in partnership with the University of Reading, since the start of their curation in 2008. The Charity offers a range of opportunities for the public to use the collections as an educational resource including Daily Guided Tours (April – November), Fruit Days, Festivals and Key Stage 1 & 2 Education Days.
How To Book
It’s going to be a fun-packed weekend! We look forward to seeing you there. Book your tickets in advance here
Reviews
‘Took the family to the Cider Festival today, a great day out. Had a very interesting tractor ride through the orchards, some tasty local cider and a delicious pizza and hog roast…and some more cider! Live music for all tastes too, and good old fashioned fun dotted around. Looking forward to returning for the next event. Well done all!’
‘Great day out for kids and adults! Live music performing at three stages, loads of fun activities for kids. Hullaballoo were awesome as usual, not lost any of their magic! Did I mention the cider? Lots of taste testing of apple, pear and some unusual ciders ie rhubarb. A well organised event, caught the train to Faversham station and practically walked straight on to the shuttle bus to Brogdale.’
‘This is the second time of attending the festival and we were not disappointed great food available great bands playing and brilliant cider and ale etc. Loads for kids to do, free bouncy castle and welly throwing etc. We had a great tour of the orchards on a tractor this was run by volunteers and they were both very knowledgable and we found the tour awesome. Can’t praise them enough.’
