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The first Lostwithiel Cider Renaissance '09 was eagerly anticipated by local cider lovers. It was held on Saturday 31st October in the town's Church Rooms, showcasing a range of the county's ciders and apple juices as well as providing information and history about local production.

The all-day event kicked off at 12 noon with discussions on cider history and apple growing. The festival itself opened at 2pm with a wide variety of draft and bottled ciders and juice including products from Cornish Orchards, Countrymans Cider, Healey's Cyder Farm plus a host of small producers.

Throughout the afternoon (until 4.30pm) a Vigo press was available free of charge for people to bring their own apples to produce juice for cider making. Local food and other apple related stalls were also available.

From 4.30pm Cider Renaissance '09 hosted live music from Lostwithiel based Blue Knives taking the festival into the Halloween evening with freshly cooked pizza and snacks from local deli Bellamama.

Festival organiser Rupert Warwick said: "The aim of the festival is to demonstrate the range of ciders available locally and give people a chance to appreciate and learn something of the cider making heritage in this part of the world."

Cider Renaissance ’09 was an all-day event split into three parts: a set of expert discussions from 12 noon to 2pm, cider and stalls from 2pm and from 4.30pm a cider celebration with food and music. It was organised by Rupert Warwick from Skyfield Communications, Lee Cornish and Dr Andrew Ormerod, Economic Botanist at Eden Project.

Pictures by Sian Cornish