Criterion Cider & Cheese Festival

One of our regular outlets the Criterion Freehouse in Leicester, has now moved into the digital age with a natty new website: http://www.criterion-freehouse.co.uk/.

The Criterion is one of a handful of Leicester city-centre pubs which can be relied on to always offer a good range of cider and perry, in addition to the real ales. On a recent visit I enjoyed a Yarlington Mill cider from well respected Herefordshire producer Dennis Gwatkin. The team at the Criterion have a long-standing commitment to offering real ciders and perrys, and back this up with a successful Cider & Cheese Festival in the Summer.

This year's festival, which is now less than two weeks away (17th - 20th July), will be the fourth, and should feature a dozen or more ciders and perrys including a few from Wales. We will be delivering the last barrel of this year's Welland Valley Special Cider for the festival. If you missed it at the Welland Valley Beer Festival, this will be your last chance to try this fruity local cider before the new season in 2009.

I'm looking forward to visiting the festival over the weekend, and trying some of those delicious cheeses, which are of course the perfect accompaniment to a glass of cider or perry.