Bristol cider maker Dan Heath’s mission to get more people drinking ‘good’ cider will continue this summer when he launches a pop-up store in a barbershop. The owner of The Cider Box, which already has a tap room in St Philips and a terrace bar at Cargo in Wapping Wharf, is launching the summer pop-up shop at Shambarber on Stokes Croft next month and he’ll also be selling cider slushies and cider lollies.
Dan says: “The overriding goal for The Cider Box is to encourage people to enjoy good cider; that is, pure juice, not from concentrate, and low intervention cider with no mystery ingredients or artificial flavours. We are fully focused on provenance, terroir and craft at all times.”
As well as its Bristol bars, The Cider Box supplies cider to festivals, events and pubs/bars across the region. The cider is made in a converted railway arch on Silverthorne Lane, and is part of a thriving community of breweries in the industrial area of St Philips.
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“We’re Bristol’s only cidermaker which is something we’re tremendously proud of. We work with local orchards, pressing, fermenting and blending juice from single varietal apples, serving up the juice at the weekends alongside local craft beers, wines, cocktails and soft drinks including award winning apple juice.”
The Cider Box’s Wapping Wharf bar and terrace has become one of Bristol’s go-to places to enjoy regional and international ciders from the world’s best producers. It’s also a place that has gained a following for its refreshing cider slushies.
And now Dan will be taking his cider slushies to a barbershop on Stokes Croft. Not surprisingly, perhaps, it was a plan hatched when he was having his haircut at Shambarber.
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“I’m in love with the buzz and energy in Stokes Croft, at all times of the day, and wanted to be a part of that, bringing good cider with us. The idea was born after a haircut at Shambarber - discovering and chatting about a mutual love for great cider.
“There was a moment when our eyes met in the mirror and in unison we both said the same thing - “a cider shop in a barbershop?”. I had to say ‘yes’ there and then, mainly as they were the ones holding the scissors!”
Slushies and cider ice lollies may have a nostalgic side to them - both were big in the 1970s and 1980s - but Dan wants to bring these thirst-quenching summer refreshers back with a contemporary twist. They’ll also be made with the ‘real’ thing too.
“Slushies are treated with a kind of novelty contempt by the discerning drinkers of the world, and we want to change that - we use only natural ingredients, sourced locally. They will be made with award-winning cider, gently chilled into a slush state, with a splash of raspberry liqueur made on a fruit farm bordering Glastonbury Festival site.
“They’ll be finished with mint from my mum’s garden. They’re glorious, and a million miles away from the slush puppies of the 1980s.”
Dan will also be selling proper cider ice lollies inspired more by the Mexican frozen fresh fruit treats called Paletas, than those found in the freezer on your local ice cream van.
He says: “They’ll be made from crisp apple cider with some natural fruits too - watermelon, kiwi and sometimes limes. They’re divine and a perfect escape back to hazy childhood summer days - they are a grown-up version of that I suppose!”
The Cider Box pop-up bar will launch at Shambarber, 43 Stokes Croft, on June 2 at 5pm and run through to September. The opening times will be Thursdays 5pm-8pm, Fridays 5pm-7pm and Saturdays 12noon-5pm.
