🍺 Brewing & Kitchen
Best Cider Making Kits UK 2026 - 7 Kits Compared
Cider is the friendliest homebrew for a UK beginner: no boil, no hops, no mash, just concentrate, yeast, sugar, and a few weeks of patience. We matched seven cider making kits on Amazon UK, from a £25 fruit cider to a complete 40-pint starter with the fermenter included, and picked the right one for every type of maker.
Key Takeaways
- John Bull Country Cider 40-Pint Kit - Best complete starter with fermenter included
- Mangrove Jack's Dry Hopped Cider - Best craft kit for a hoppy, aromatic batch
- Magnum Apple Cider Kit - Best value at under £30 for 40 pints
- On The Rocks Apple Cider - Best budget kit for a clean, dry cider
- On The Rocks Peach & Mango - Best fruit cider for a sweeter finish
Suggested Reading: Best Home Brewing Kits UK 2026 · Best Homebrew Fermenters UK 2026 · Best Wine Making Kits UK 2026 · Best Kombucha Brewing Kits UK 2026
Quick Picks
Short on time: here is the bottom line.
John Bull Country Cider 40-Pint
£58.00
£35.00
£28.00
£26.00
£25.00
£47.00
Bulldog Brew Perfect Apple Cider
£32.00
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Yield | Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bull Country Cider | £58.00 | 40 pints | Fermenter, airlock, yeast, ingredients | Complete starter |
| Mangrove Jack's Dry Hopped | £35.00 | 23L batch | 2.4kg kit, yeast, hop pellets | Craft character |
| Magnum Apple Cider | £28.00 | 40 pints | Concentrate, yeast, instructions | Value |
| On The Rocks Apple Cider | £26.00 | 40 pints | Concentrate, yeast, instructions | Budget |
| On The Rocks Peach & Mango | £25.00 | 6 gallons | Fruit concentrate, yeast | Fruit cider |
| Cider/Perry Equipment Pack | £47.00 | Reusable | Fermenting + bottling gear | Equipment upgrade |
| Bulldog Perfect Apple Cider | £32.00 | 40 pints | Concentrate, yeast, finings | Fresh apple taste |
In-Depth Reviews
John Bull Country Cider 40 Pint (5 Gallon) Starter Kit
5-gallon fermenter · airlock and bung · cider concentrate · yeast sachet · priming sugar · full instructions · 4.4/5 from 185+ UK ratings
This is a top pick for new cider makers, because it is the rare package where you genuinely do not need to buy anything else. The John Bull Country Cider starter comes with a 5-gallon fermenter, an airlock, the cider concentrate, yeast, and priming sugar, so the first batch starts the day the box lands.
The cider itself is a proper British country cider: dry, appley, and with enough bite to remind you it is real alcohol, not a sugary soft drink. At 40 pints from one kit, the cost per pint lands well under a pound, which makes it cheaper than the cheapest supermarket cider and closer in character to something from a farm shop.
The only catch is the space: a 5-gallon fermenter needs a cool corner for a few weeks, and you will want bottles ready for bottling day. For a first batch that is simple, forgiving, and genuinely good, this is the one to start with.
- Fermenter and airlock included in the box
- 40 pints for under a pound a pint
- Proper dry British country cider character
- Foolproof instructions for a first batch
- Fermenter takes up real space for weeks
- Bottles and steriliser sold separately
Mangrove Jack's Craft Series Dry Hopped Apple Cider Kit (2.4kg)
2.4kg craft cider kit · dry hop pellets · matched yeast strain · 5.0/5 from verified UK ratings · Mangrove Jack's Craft Series
The Mangrove Jack's Craft Series kit is the one that stops homebrew cider tasting like homebrew. It is a 2.4kg kit that makes a 23-litre batch, and the difference is the dry hops: you add real hop pellets a few days before bottling, which lifts a floral, citrus aroma over the clean apple base.
The yeast is matched to the style rather than a generic all-rounder, which gives a drier, more polished finish. It costs about £35, more than the budget tins, and it asks for a bit more patience because the dry-hop stage adds days to the schedule.
The reward is a cider that genuinely could sit next to a craft bottle in a pub fridge, which is not something most kits can claim. If you already made a basic batch and want to taste what the next level looks like, this is the kit that gets you there.
- Real dry hops add craft-level aroma
- Style-matched yeast for a clean finish
- Perfect 5.0 rating from verified buyers
- Small enough to store on a shelf
- Dry-hop stage extends the wait by days
- Fermenter and bottles not included
Magnum Apple Cider Making Home Brew Kit (40 Pints)
40-pint yield · apple cider concentrate · yeast sachet · step-by-step guide · 4.2/5 from 47+ UK ratings · Magnum homebrew range
The Magnum kit is the value champion of this test, because it does the core job at a price that makes a first batch almost free. For about £28 you get a 40-pint batch: a solid apple concentrate, a yeast sachet, and instructions that walk you through the whole process including bottling and carbonation.
The cider it produces is a straightforward, medium-dry apple cider, not fancy, but exactly what most people picture when they think homemade cider. It assumes you already have a fermenter, an airlock, and bottles, so it suits the brewer who owns basic gear or who plans to pair it with a cheap fermenter.
At roughly 70p a pint, the savings versus shop cider are real, and the process teaches you the full routine so your second kit can be something more ambitious. For the price of a takeaway, you learn whether cider making is for you.
- 40 pints for under £30
- Simple, proven instructions
- Medium-dry character suits most tastes
- Cheap way to test the hobby
- Fermenter and bottles sold separately
- No extras like finings or priming sugar
On The Rocks Apple Cider Kit (40 Pints / 23 Litres)
40-pint yield · apple concentrate · yeast sachet · clean dry finish · 3.4/5 from 15 UK ratings · On The Rocks range
The On The Rocks Apple Cider kit is the cheapest complete ingredient kit in this comparison, and for a budget brew it delivers a clean, dry apple cider with no off flavours. The concentrate is straightforward, the yeast does its job, and the instructions are simple enough for a complete beginner.
At £26 for 40 pints, the maths is unbeatable: less than 70p a pint before you count the sugar you add. The rating history is modest, which reflects that this is a no-frills kit rather than a bad one. You will need a fermenter, airlock, and bottles, and you should not expect craft-level complexity.
What you get is an honest, drinkable cider that proves the process works, at the lowest entry price on the UK market. It's a good choice if you're not sure you want to commit to the hobby at all.
- Lowest entry price on Amazon UK
- Clean, dry result with no off flavours
- Simple process for a first batch
- 40-pint yield stretches the budget
- No equipment included
- Basic flavour profile, no extras
On The Rocks Cider Home Brew Ingredient Kit - Peach & Mango
6-gallon yield · peach and mango fruit concentrate · yeast sachet · sweet fruity finish · 4.0/5 from 19 UK ratings · On The Rocks range
If your idea of cider is the sweet, fruity cans rather than a dry farmhouse pint, the Peach and Mango kit is the one that matches. On The Rocks built this ingredient kit around a peach and mango concentrate that ferments into a bright, sweet fruit cider, the kind of drink you serve over ice in summer rather than cellar-cold in winter.
It makes a generous 6 gallons, which is a big batch for a fruit cider, and the yeast handles the sugar load without throwing off flavours. It needs your own fermenter and bottles, and it is sweet enough that some drinkers will want to cut it with sparkling water.
But for a crowd-pleasing batch that converts people who say they do not like homebrew, this kit is hard to beat at £25.
- Big 6-gallon batch of fruit cider
- Sweet profile wins over non-homebrew fans
- Clean fermentation from a reliable yeast
- Great price for the volume
- Too sweet for fans of dry cider
- Fermenter and bottles not included
Home Brew Online Cider/Perry Making Equipment Starter Pack
Fermentation vessel · airlock and bung · syphon and tubing · hydrometer · bottle filler · sterilising gear · 4.4/5 from 236+ UK ratings
This is the kit to buy if you want to brew from juice or from a concentrate-only kit and you do not own any gear yet. The Home Brew Online Cider and Perry equipment pack bundles the fermenting and bottling kit you need: a fermentation vessel, airlock, syphon and tubing, a hydrometer to track the sugar drop, a bottle filler, and sterilising gear.
Everything is reusable, so the £47 buys years of batches, and the 4.4 rating from over 230 buyers tells you the gear holds up. It does not include any concentrate or yeast, so it pairs with a Magnum or On The Rocks ingredient kit, or with supermarket apple juice for a simple juice cider.
If you already own a fermenter, skip this. If you are starting from nothing, it is the piece that stops you improvising with a bucket from the garage.
- Everything reusable for years of batches
- Hydrometer tracks the fermentation properly
- Syphon and filler make bottling clean
- Proven by 236+ UK ratings
- No ingredients included
- Redundant if you already own gear
Bulldog Brew Perfect Apple Cider
40-pint yield · apple concentrate · yeast and finings · crisp fresh character · 4.3/5 from 13 UK ratings · Bulldog Brew range
The Bulldog Perfect Apple Cider sits between the budget tins and the craft kits, and its strength is a genuinely fresh apple character. Bulldog packs the kit with a quality apple concentrate plus finings, which clear the cider so it drops bright in the bottle instead of staying hazy.
The result is a crisp, clean cider that tastes closer to a pressed apple than a fermented sugar wash. It makes 40 pints, includes the yeast and finings, and the instructions are straightforward enough for a second or third batch. It costs about £32, a small step above the budget kits, and the extra buys noticeably better clarity and a cleaner finish.
If you want a dependable every-batch cider with real apple flavour and you are past the absolute beginner stage, this is the kit that delivers it.
- Finings give a bright, clear cider
- Fresh apple character over sugar twang
- 40 pints at a fair price
- Reliable yeast and finings included
- Fermenter and bottles not included
- Smaller buyer history than the big brands
How to Choose a Cider Making Kit
Complete starter or ingredient kit is the first decision. A complete starter like the John Bull Country Cider includes the fermenter, airlock, and yeast, so you can brew the day it arrives. An ingredient kit such as the Magnum or On The Rocks assumes you already own the gear.
If this is your first batch ever, spend the extra on the complete kit. If you already brew beer or wine, an ingredient kit is all you need. Read our best home brewing kits guide for the broader starter kit picture.
Yield decides your bottle count. Most UK kits make 40 pints, which is 23 litres, and that means roughly 30 to 40 bottles depending on size. The On The Rocks Peach and Mango makes a bigger 6-gallon batch, while the Mangrove Jack's is a 23-litre batch with a craft focus.
Work out how many bottles you own before you pick, because nothing kills the finish of a good batch like bottling into dirty or mismatched containers. The right fermenter matters just as much as the kit itself.
Sweet or dry is a taste call, not a quality call. Budget kits like the On The Rocks Apple lean dry, fruit kits like the Peach and Mango lean sweet, and the John Bull and Bulldog sit in a balanced middle. If you normally drink strongbow, go fruity. If you like a farmhouse scrumpy, go dry. You can also stop fermentation early or add sweetener at bottling to adjust a dry kit to your taste.
Check what is in the box before you buy. The biggest surprise for new brewers is discovering the kit needs bottles, a steriliser, a hydrometer, or a fermenter that is not included. The Cider/Perry Equipment Pack solves that in one purchase. Every product listing in this guide states exactly what is included, so check that column before you add to cart.
Time matters more than effort. Cider is the least labour-intensive homebrew, but it is not fast. Budget three to four weeks from pitching yeast to drinking, and resist the urge to bottle early. The Mangrove Jack's dry-hop stage adds a few days but is worth it. Clear a shelf in a cool, dark spot before you start, and your future self will thank you on bottling day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
The John Bull Country Cider 40-Pint Kit is the best all-round buy for UK makers who want one complete package that makes a proper dry country cider from day one, fermenter included. For most first-timers, though, the smart money is on the Magnum Apple Cider Kit, because it proves the process works for less than the cost of a takeaway.
If you want craft character without moving to all-grain brewing, the Mangrove Jack's Dry Hopped Cider is the best upgrade kit in the UK. And if you brew from juice or want sweet fruit cider, the Peach and Mango kit and the Cider/Perry Equipment Pack cover those routes without waste.
Whichever you choose, sterilise everything that touches the cider, keep the fermenter in a cool dark spot, and wait the full three to four weeks before bottling. That patience is the entire secret to a cider batch you are proud to hand a friend.
Sarah Mitchell
Writer
Sarah writes about crafting, DIY and home projects. She has been crafting for over 8 years.
Last reviewed: August 9, 2026 · Evidence-based review · Contains affiliate links