Save Our Scrumpy!
“We will Rise Up… When the Pubs Shut.” (Robb Johnson)[1]
A defaced poster for Blackthorn cider on Palmyra Road, Bedminster, Bristol. Photo credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
In the shadows of west country pubs and in groups on facebook a movement to save a cultural icon is growing. The decision by Gaymer Cider Company to change the recipe for Blackthorn (one of the most popular dry ciders in the west country), making it sweeter and lower alcohol content has not been well received by its legion of loyal drinkers…. who are boycotting the new re-launched version as well as other drinks by the same company, are writing letters of complaint, writing graffiti on Blackthorn advertisements and planning a street protest.
The claim has been made that the decision, which the makers claim came after careful consultations, were really taken in favour of Londoners who not being traditional cider drinkers prefer a lighter and sweeter drink… dismissed in the west country as an alcopop, or apple juice.
As a Wessex man, and as an ethnographic Conservator, I fully support this protest, the preservation of scrumpy in cider country is as important to me as the conservation of any other material culture (in this case: gastronomy), in fact many times more so – as it is a part of my own culture. Here then is one conservator who is willing to stand and be counted along with Oscar Wildes “drinking classes” in our fight to preserve local culture.
I Want My Blackthorn Back!
Notes:
1. A lyric from the Song: “Tonight, Let’s have a Good Time.” The Robb Johnson Band. From the album: “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”
Facebook Groups:
* I Want My Blackthorn Back!
* THE NEW BAD TASTE OF BLACKTHORN!!
References:
* Anon. 2009. New recipe Blackthorn not going down well in Bristol pubs. This Is Bristol. Friday, April 03, 2009, 07:00. Online: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/New-recipe-Blackthorn-going-Bristol-pubs/article-869883-detail/article.html
* Anon. 2009. Blackthorn Cider suffers West Country revolt over changed recipe. The Telegraph: Food and Drink. Online: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/5099650/Blackthorn-Cider-suffers-West-Country-revolt-over-changed-recipe.html
* PA. Press. 2009. Anger over changed cider recipe. MSN News. http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=15736370
* Sam Jones. 2009. Blackthorn cider relaunch angers drinkers. The Guardian. (guardian.co.uk). Friday 3 April 2009 14.28 BST. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/03/blackthorn-cider
