There is something rather special about discovering a local producer that combines traditional farming, a passion for quality and a genuine love of the countryside. During a visit to Saxby’s Cider in Farndish, on the Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire border, you discover a business that celebrates British apples, traditional cider-making and the wonderful flavours that can be created when nature is allowed to do its thing.

Based on a family farm in the small village of Farndish, Saxby’s Cider is putting Northamptonshire firmly on the map as a destination for quality craft cider. While the West Country might traditionally be associated with cider production, Saxby’s demonstrates that you do not need to travel hundreds of miles to find an outstanding British cider.

From the Orchard to the Bottle

What makes Saxby’s Cider particularly interesting is its commitment to producing cider using apples grown in its own orchards. Rather than simply buying in ingredients, the team carefully selects and grows the varieties needed to create its distinctive range of drinks.

These include traditional cider apple varieties such as Black Dabinett, Yarlington Mill and Kingston Black, alongside Bramley apples. Each brings different characteristics to the finished product, helping to create the balance of sweetness, acidity and depth of flavour that makes a good cider so enjoyable.

Every autumn, the apples are harvested and pressed on the family farm. The resulting cider reflects the character of that particular growing season, much like wine produced from grapes in different years.

It is an approach that places the fruit at the heart of the process. By allowing the apples to mature and carefully blending the resulting juices, Saxby’s creates drinks that celebrate the natural flavours of the ingredients rather than relying on artificial additions.

Something for Every Cider Lover

One of the most impressive things about Saxby’s Cider is the variety available. Whether you prefer a traditional apple cider, something fruity and refreshing or a more unusual drink to enjoy on a special occasion, there is plenty to explore.

The Original Cider, at 4.8% ABV, is the classic medium apple cider and an excellent starting point for discovering the range. For those who prefer something drier, the Traditional Cider is a still, medium-dry option made using traditional methods and has an alcohol content of 5.8%.

Then there are the fruit ciders, which introduce a different dimension to the experience.

Cherry offers a mouth-watering balance of sweetness and sharpness, while Rhubarb provides a more subtle fruit flavour. Blackcurrant promises a burst of berry character, and Strawberry combines the original cider with strawberry juice. Plum is another tempting option, blending apple with mellow plum fruitiness.

These varieties demonstrate how versatile cider can be. Rather than relying on artificial flavours, Saxby’s uses real fruit juices to complement the apples and create distinctive combinations.

There is also a Mulled Cider, featuring the warming aromas of cardamom, cinnamon and star anise, making it particularly appealing during the colder months.

For those who want to enjoy the flavour of cider without the higher alcohol content, the Low Alcohol option contains just 0.5% ABV.

The range extends beyond cider, too. Slider is a sloe gin and cider aperitif, while the Méthode Traditionelle offers a crisp, Champagne-style sparkling cider. Christmas Cheer, described as a mince pie in a glass, provides a festive alternative for seasonal celebrations.

Visitors can also discover apple cider vinegar and cloudy apple juice made using the same blend of apples as the cider.

It is a range that demonstrates considerable creativity while remaining rooted in the farm’s main ingredient: the humble British apple.

Award-Winning Quality

Saxby’s commitment to quality has not gone unnoticed. The business has achieved Great Taste recognition over five consecutive years, establishing itself as a producer of award-winning drinks.

The Great Taste Awards are widely respected in the food and drink industry, with products judged on their flavour and overall quality.

Among the highlights, Saxby’s Rhubarb Cider has been described by judges as “nicely balanced”, while its Limited Edition cider has been praised as “full flavoured”.

The Plum Cider and Sloe Gin Slider have both received two-star Great Taste Awards. Judges described the Plum Cider as “crisp, refreshing and very drinkable” — a verdict that captures exactly what many people look for in a quality cider.

These accolades are particularly encouraging for a relatively specialised producer operating from a family farm in rural Northamptonshire. They demonstrate that a local business can compete on quality while retaining the character and individuality that make independent producers so appealing.

Supporting Local Farming and Producers

Saxby’s Cider also highlights the important role that local producers play in the wider Northamptonshire economy.

Farms are often associated primarily with growing crops or raising livestock, but businesses such as Saxby’s demonstrate how agricultural knowledge can be combined with food and drink production to create something with additional value.

Growing the apples, pressing the fruit and producing the finished drinks on the farm creates a direct link between agriculture and the consumer. It also gives customers a story behind the product — one that begins in the orchard rather than on a supermarket shelf.

For Northamptonshire, this is an important part of the county’s wider food and drink offering. Local producers help showcase the quality of the region’s agricultural landscape, encourage people to explore rural communities and provide opportunities to support independent businesses.

Farndish might be a small village, but Saxby’s Cider proves that exciting things can happen in the countryside when people combine experience, enthusiasm and a willingness to try something different.

The company’s approach also demonstrates that tradition and innovation do not have to compete. Traditional cider-making principles can sit comfortably alongside modern production techniques and creative flavour combinations.

A Local Taste Worth Discovering

Whether you are a devoted cider enthusiast or simply enjoy discovering interesting local businesses, Saxby’s Cider is a name worth knowing.

Its combination of home-grown apples, carefully crafted recipes and award-winning products offers a taste of Northamptonshire that is both distinctive and rooted in the landscape.

From the classic Original and Traditional ciders to the fruity Rhubarb, Cherry and Blackcurrant varieties, there is plenty to tempt the taste buds. Add the sparkling cider, seasonal drinks, apple juice and other products, and the range becomes an excellent showcase for what can be achieved with British fruit.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Saxby’s is its straightforward philosophy: grow good apples, treat them with care and let the flavour speak for itself.

In an age when consumers are increasingly interested in provenance, quality and supporting independent producers, that approach feels particularly relevant.

Saxby’s Cider is a reminder that you do not have to look to the traditional cider-producing regions to discover something special. Right here on the Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire border, a family farm is turning its autumn apple harvest into a collection of distinctive, award-winning drinks.

For anyone exploring the local food and drink scene, Saxby’s Cider offers a delicious reason to raise a glass to Northamptonshire farming, British apples and the people who make the most of both.