Close-up of freshly harvested red and yellow cider apples showing natural variations in colour and texture

25th March 2026

Cider Trends 2026: Cider Growth, Regional Insights and Brands

Cider is gaining momentum across the UK as we enter 2026. Quality is rising, demand is growing, and interest spans fruit cider, flavoured cider and classic apple cider across popular cider brands UK wide.

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 that fruit quality was reported as excellent, high in natural sugars, packed with flavour and full of promise for 2026 ciders.

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, cider farms and best ciders UK producers.

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 cider brands UK wide.

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.

5/10

Inch's Cider is now the most valuable cider brand in five out of ten regions, and in the top three in all but one. Searches for Inch's cider, who makes Inch's cider, and where is Inch's cider made reflect its growing prominence among popular cider brands UK.

Scotland remains an outlier, where consumers show strong loyalty to Strongbow, with Strongbow cider variants such as Strongbow Dark Fruit, Strongbow Tropical and Strongbow Dark Fruit on draught continuing to perform strongly as cider on tap in pub.

Regional Takeaways

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 bottled cider, cider bottles and classic cider glass serves using branded cider glassware.

London, South East and Yorkshire

Growth is being driven by fruity and flavoured cider options, including berry cider, mixed fruit cider and summer fruit cider, alongside Bulmers flavoured ciders, tropical cider and other fruity cider brands attracting younger drinkers.

Lancashire and the North West

Consumers are currently more focused on mainstream cider, with a shift away from flavoured draught over the past year. This reflects evolving taste preferences and growing interest in best cider options among popular cider brands UK, with a focus on brands with clear identity and sustainability credentials.

Scotland and the North East

Strong loyalty to mainstream cider brands remains, with Strongbow variants dominating draught serves and continuing to perform well across on-trade venues.

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 options.

Venues should focus on a balanced range of cider brands UK wide 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.