DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 25 August, 2021.

PUB LIST   PUBLIC HOUSES   Paul Skelton

Earliest Nov 2011

(Name from)

Cider Works

Open 2021+

2 Dover Road

Waldershare

01304 448540

https://whatpub.com/green-oak-farm-cider-works

Cider Works 2018

Above photo 2018.

 

News just received states that the old "High and Dry" is now called the "Cider Works" and a premises license has been applied for. (November 2011).

 

From www.Dover-Online.com, 7 August 2010.

EASTRY COUPLES CIDER WORKS PLAN FOR WALDERSHARE PUB.

Andrew Wedl, 56, and wife Amanda, 42, have been given the green light by Dover District Council to have their own cider making business at the "High and Dry" pub on Sandwich Road, close to Tilmanstone.

The couple, who bought the pub last year, will run a restaurant and bar and have a country store to sell the Kentish brew and other local produce, arts and crafts.

There are also plans for a museum charting apple-growing and cider-making in Kent through the years and the planting of specimen trees on site so guests can see where their cider comes from.

The apples for the cider will also be local - grown at Andrew and Amanda's 1,500 tree orchard at their Green Oak Farm.

The exciting venture will provide five jobs with the possibility of more as business grows.

Dad-of-two Andrew, who owned "The Royal hotel" in Deal and the "White Cliffs" in St Margaret's before buying the pub, said: "We have a small farm where we have planted out an orchard purely for growing cider apples.

"We both come from the catering and hotel industry and wanted to go back and create our own produce. That way we know the history of it so it won't be organic but it is all Kentish produced with organic principles.

"We wanted somewhere to make our own cider and that has to be licensed so we bought the "High and Dry" and applied to change it to the cider works and shop and to have a sort of museum so we can show the progress of apple-picking through Kent and cider-making. We are going to get some old cider making kit and have story boards."

Once the £200,000 cider-making kit has been bought and set in place local schoolchildren will also be able to visit.

The former St Margaret's holiday park director said: "The chemical process is part of the bio-chemistry curriculum on the current GCSE programme. We hope to invite children over and they can see the process of fermentation and see bio-chemistry at work. We can also go along the lines of explaining about sensible drinking."

And if those plans weren't enough Andrew and Amanda say they are going to make Kent's first sparkling cider from their produce and will eventually expand the site for people to hold small parties and receptions. Visitors will also be able to buy their own cider-making kits, trees and produce from local farms and artisans.

Andrew said: "It's quite exciting. It's a new challenge, it's interesting and we will be making something from our own produce.

"There will be five jobs to start with but we will grow."

The couple say the store and restaurant, which will serve local produce, will be open for Christmas and, if they can get the first press of apples soon enough, The Cider Works will also open for the festive season.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 19 January, 2012. 65p. Report by Kathy Bailes

FAMILY ENTERPRISE MAKES NEW CIDER WORKS SPARKLE

A HUGE £700,000 investment and two-and-a-half-years building
and refurbishment work have finally come to fruition with the official opening of The Cider Works.

The pub, shop, restaurant, cafe, guest house and cider-pro-cessing combo, on the site of the former "High and Dry" in Walder-share, was opened by the Earl of Guildford on Saturday morning.

Owners Andrew and Amanda Wedl bought the pub in 2009, a year after buying a small holding in Eastry where they now have a 2,000 tree orchard.

Apples from their Green Oak Farm are pressed at The "Cider Works" and sold alongside food, craft and drink produce from other local farms and artisans. The venture has created six jobs since a “soft” opening at Easter.

Dad-of-two Andrew, who previously owned the "Royal Hotel" in Deal and the "White Cliffs" in St Margaret's, said: “Some years ago we purchased the small-holding in Eastry and planted some apple trees.

Project

“We decided to make our own cider and so needed somewhere to sell it so the "High and Dry" became our project. It has been a long, drawn-out project with building taking two-and-a-half-years.

“But we are here now and business has been doing very well. We really have to thank the parish council and community for so much support and John and David Bradley for helping us with the technology and information about how to grow our apples and how to go down this road.

“It has been a huge learning process with the manufacturing, finding out how it should be done and what facilities we needed.” The couple say The "Cider Works" was born because they wanted to take a new direction.

Andrew, 58, said: “We wanted to change our lives. We had been in hotels and decided we just wanted a different style of life.”

Future plans include a garden centre of fruit trees, planting of specimen trees on site and, eventually, a museum charting apple-growing and cider-making in Kent through the years.

Andrew said: “There has been a big resurgence in cider and it has been quite difficult to get hold of all the stuff for the museum. We also want to add the garden centre so people can have the whole experience and come and buy a tree as well as their cider, crafts and local produce.”

Functions can also be held on the site, which houses a £200,000 cider-making kit, with The "Cider Work's" first wedding already booked.

 

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 25 April, 2012. 65p.

Andrew and Amanda Wedl

FORMER hoteliers Andrew and Amanda Wedl, pictured above, have their own cider making business at the "High and Dry" pub in Sandwich Road, Waldershare.

They bought land at nearby Green Oaks farm and planted 2,000 heritage variety cider apple trees.

In recent weeks, the first batch arrived, containing only apples sourced from their own orchard.

“We have diversified by making our own cider and giving talks about the process,” said Mrs Wedl.

“I don't think there's enough business out there for everyone any more. It's not enough just to offer the traditional pub style."

 

From the thisiskent.co.uk Monday, June 04, 2012

WALDERAHARE CIDER WORKS SPARKLE

Cider Works owners

Above showing Andrew and Amanda Wedl with daughter Marissa.

 

A HUGE £700,000 investment and two-and-a-half-years building and refurbishment work have finally come to fruition with the official opening of The Cider Works.

The pub, shop, restaurant, cafe, guest house and cider-processing combo, on the site of the former "High and Dry" in Waldershare, was opened by the Earl of Guildford last month.

Owners Andrew and Amanda Wedl bought the pub in 2009, a year after buying a small holding in Eastry where they now have a 2,000 tree orchard.

Apples from their Green Oak Farm are pressed at The Cider Works and sold alongside food, craft and drink produce from other local farms and artisans. The venture has created six jobs since a "soft" opening at Easter.

Dad-of-two Andrew, who previously owned the "Royal Hotel" in Deal and the "White Cliffs" in St Margaret's, said: "Some years ago we purchased the small-holding in Eastry and planted some apple trees.

"We decided to make our own cider and so needed somewhere to sell it so the "High and Dry" became our project. It has been a long, drawn-out project with building taking two-and-a-half-years.

"But we are here now and business has been doing very well. We really have to thank the parish council and community for so much support and John and David Bradley for helping us with the technology and information about how to grow our apples and how to go down this road.

"It has been a huge learning process with the manufacturing, finding out how it should be done and what facilities we needed."

The couple say The "Cider Works" was born because they wanted to take a new direction.

Andrew, 58, said: "We wanted to change our lives. We had been in hotels and decided we just wanted a different style of life."

Future plans include a garden centre of fruit trees, planting of specimen trees on site and, eventually, a museum charting apple-growing and cider-making in Kent through the years.

Andrew said: "There has been a big resurgence in cider and it has been quite difficult to get hold of all the stuff for the museum. We also want to add the garden centre so people can have the whole experience and come and buy a tree as well as their cider, crafts and local produce."

Functions can also be held on the site, which houses a £200,000 cider-making kit, with The "Cider Work's" first wedding already booked.

 

From the Dover Express, 30 July 2015.

Holiday chalets plan for pub.

WALDERSHARE: A former miners' pub near Whitfield is set to become a holiday mini-centre if a scheme is approved by planners.

Andrew Wedl, of Eastry, has revealed he has a scheme for 13 holiday chalets in the large garden of the Cider Works public house and restaurant at Waldershare. Mr Wedl's planning application indicates the 13 "pods," scattered among the grass garden play area, would be timber built, some with thatched roofs.

 

 

Closed after the fire in April 2018, but hopefully to open again.

 

From the https://www.kentlive.news By Vicky Castle, 6 April 2018.

Fire crews raced to popular Dover restaurant The Cider Works.

It took teams two hours to put out the fire and there were four engines sent to the scene.

Firefighters raced to a Dover restaurant this morning (April 6) after a roof caught alight.

Crews were called to The Cider Works, in Waldershare at 9.38am and spent two hours extinguishing the blaze.

Four fire engines and a height vehicle were sent to the restaurant, formerly the High & Dry pub, on Sandwich Road.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "We got the stop in at 11.28am.

"Firefighters used three main jets to put the fire out and the were all wearing breathing appartus.

"A height vehicle was used as well.

"It took teams two hours to put out the fire and there were four engines sent to the scene.

"Two pumps are still at the scene damping down the fire."

There were no reported causalities and it is not yet known how the fire started.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Sam Lennon, 11 April 2018.

Rain damage hinders reopening of Cider Works restaurant in Sandwich Road, Waldershare, after fire.

Hopes to promptly reopen a fire-struck restaurants have been dashed.

Managers at the Cider Works in Waldershare had hoped to be back in business by Saturday morning.

But heavy rain last night caused more damage to the property and the reopening has had to be put back.

Cider Works fire damage 2018

Destruction: The fire tore through the roof of the restaurant. Picture: Tony Flashman.

The new date for when customers can come back is now not yet known.

Amanda Wedl, from the restaurant, said: "Due to last night's heavy rain we have had additional setbacks with further water damage and the knock on effect with the electrics and so on.

"This being the case we are reluctantly going to have to put reopening on hold for the moment until we can make the building water-tight."

The blaze at the Sandwich Road restaurant had broken out just after 9.30am last Friday, April 6.

Four fire engines were needed to deal with the blaze, which ripped through the first floor and roof.

The building was evacuated of a small amount of people, restaurant staff and occupants of flats upstairs but no customers.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said today (Wednesday): "The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental and it is thought to have started in the area of the main chimney."

Ms Wedl told the Mercury: "The majority of the damage has affected the roof and first floor.

"Fortunately the ground floor has been relatively unscathed.

"It has been a terrible shock but we are so thankful for the efforts of Kent Fire and Rescue Service who were absolutely outstanding.

"Not only did they bring the fire under control speedily but they worked tirelessly to salvage important items. We have also been hugely bolstered by the kind messages of support both in person and on our Facebook page.

"The next few months will obviously be a trying time but with the continued support of our fantastic customers and friends we are sure we will get through this."

Customers are being advised to visit the restaurant's Facebook page and website ciderworks.co.uk for the announcement of the new opening date.

 

From the Dover Mercury, 29 May 2019. By Sam Lennon

Fire damaged pub building is up for auction

Cider Works 2019

High and Dry pub could become five holiday chalets.

A former restaurant, struck by fire last year is up for auction.

The Cider Works in Waldershare closed following the blaze in April last year.

It was also damaged by heavy rain afterwards.

The premises in Sandwich Road, formerly called The High & Dry, contained a pub, restaurant, shop, two flats and cider processing combo.

It is among 135 lots listed by Clive Emson, the land and property auctioneers, at its next sale.

The site is being offered with permission for the building of five holiday chalets.

It is on a plot of 1.82 acres (0.73 hectares) of land and has a freehold guide price of £390,000 to £400,000.

Auctioneer Kevin Gilbert said: “It was a shock and a shame when the Cider Works was hit by fire.

“But there is an opportunity for someone to create a phoenix and build something from what remains or, perhaps, redevelop the site entirely, subject to all necessary consents.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Charlie Harman, 23 July 2021.

The Cider Works reopens near Waldershare, Dover, three years after massive fire.

A pub has relaunched after years of fire damage repairs, now boasting on-site accommodation.

The Cider Works, just off the A256 near Waldershare, Dover, saw a large fire tear through the building in 2018.

Cider Works 2021

The Cider Works has been returned to its former glory, with a modern makeover inside.

Despite hopes of relaunching quickly, the extensive damage coupled with heavy rain meant the now-roofless pub had to close for good.

The following year it was sold to Jodie and Guy South who began two years of renovations.

Mrs South said: "We have been working really hard to bring this iconic venue back to life as it has been serving the community of Waldershare since 1794 and is the only public house in the village.

"We are passionate about the produce of Kent and all our food and drinks behind the bar will celebrate the best of Kent with gluten free and vegan options always available.

Jodie South 2019

Jodie South getting the keys to the wrecked building in 2019.

Cider Works roof 2019

The roof and ceiling had to be completely rebuilt after the 2018 fire.

"We are delighted to be working with small and large suppliers throughout the county from Kentish Pip Cider and Chapel Down Wines to Canterbury Cheeses and Solley’s Ice Cream there will be plenty of gorgeous treats to enjoy."

Currently the owners are looking for a full time chef, but a wide lunch menu is still available with meat and cheese boards available throughout the day.

Coffee and cakes are on offer in the morning Thursdays to Sundays with gluten free and vegan options provided by the talented team from the Lane Bakery in Deal.

In the long run, the couple hope to feature guest chefs who will take over the kitchen for an evening and present speciality dishes.

Cider Works accommodation 2021

On-site accommodation is now available in the form of five shepherds' huts.

The Cider Works - previously known as the "High and Dry" - is also being offered as a location for weddings, with three licensed ceremony areas on-site and the option to have anything from a hog roast to a barbecue or fine dining wedding breakfast.

Another venture the Souths have started is holiday accommodation.

Five individually-styled shepherds' huts have been installed and can be booked through the pub's website.

The huts have a central fire pit, and are each equipped with a small kitchen so short breaks can be self-catered too.

 

I have been informed that the venue is open again, August 2021.

 

LICENSEE LIST

Last pub licensee had WEDL Andrew & Amada Nov 2011-19

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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