Date: 25th March 2026
Quality of the 2025 harvest
According to the National Association of Cider Makers, the 2025 cider harvest was a bumper one, with public affairs director Mark Hopper telling media last October: “The 2025 cider apple harvest is now well underway, and fruit quality is reported as excellent, high in natural sugars, packed with flavour and full of promise for next year’s ciders.”
This means the quality, depth and variety of ciders reaching the market in 2026 will be significantly improved, supported by stronger apple crops and overall cider fruit quality across cider breweries, and cider farms.
Regionality
Britain’s heritage as a cider producing nation continues to give the category authenticity and regional pride, but its growth story is now being written beyond its West Country heartland. Regional performance highlights a market in transition, shaped by shifting tastes and the rising influence of premium and purpose led makes of cider, types of cider brands and popular cider brands UK.
What is clear is that, apart from in certain regions such as Scotland and the North East, the role of mainstream cider has moved from a strong, premium option to becoming the mainstream choice across cider UK.
Inch’s Cider leads the way, now the most valuable cider brand in five out of the ten regions and in the top three brands in all but one region. Searches such as inches cider, inchs cider and inch cider reflect its growing position among cider brands UK and popular ciders, as well as interest in where is inchs cider made, who owns inches cider and who makes inch's cider.
That outlier is Scotland, where consumers show strong loyalty to Strongbow, with strongbow cider variants such as strongbow strawberry cider, strongbow tropical, strongbow dark fruit keg and strongbow dark fruit abv continuing to perform strongly on draught alongside dark fruits keg options. Strongbow cider flavours remain central to demand, whether served in a strongbow pint glass, strongbow glass or as part of cider on tap in pub.
The South West
Regional differences remain important across the UK. In the South West, traditional cider heartlands continue to support heritage brands such as Thatchers, reflecting established cider farm and cider brewery roots and continued demand for cider bottles, bottled cider and classic glass cider serves in cider glassware.
London, South East and Yorkshire
In London, the South East and Yorkshire, growth is being driven by fruity cider and flavoured cider options, including berry cider, mixed fruit cider and summer fruit cider, alongside wider interest in cider flavours and different cider brands. Variants such as bulmers flavoured ciders, tropical cider and other fruity cider brands continue to contribute to growth in this segment.
Lancashire and the North West
In Lancashire, consumers are currently more focused on mainstream cider offerings, with a shift away from flavoured draught over the past year. This may reflect evolving taste preferences and a growing interest in brands with clear identity, purpose and sustainability within cider brands UK, as well as increased focus on best cider and best ciders UK when choosing between cider options.
Regional takeaways
Across regions, cider consumption continues to vary based on local preference, but mainstream cider, fruity cider, flavoured cider and established cider brands all play an important role in shaping performance. Understanding these regional differences is key for venues looking to build a balanced range of ciders in UK, from bottled cider to cider glass serves and cider on tap, ensuring a strong mix of cider drink options across popular cider brands UK and best ciders UK.
Conclusion: What this means for cider in 2026
For the on trade, the combination of a strong harvest and shifting regional preferences means cider in 2026 will deliver greater quality, consistency and variety, with stronger visibility for cider brands across cider on tap and bottled cider.
Venues should focus on a balanced range of cider brands to meet demand across different consumers. From cider on tap served in a cider glass to bottled cider options, the right range and presentation will continue to drive sales and enhance the cider drink experience in pubs and bars.
For a deeper look at these shifts, including trends and category performance, explore the HEINEKEN UK 2026 Cider Report.
All statistics sourced from the Heineken Cider Report 2026, published March 2026, unless otherwise stated.