THE town of Batlow has welcomed the opening of The Apple Thief Cider House, a brand-new tourist attraction championing the region’s apple industry.
The Apple Thief Cider House is more than just a venue – it is a destination.
The immersive experience showcases the apple’s journey from the orchard, transported in timber apple bins and transformed into flavoursome cider. Patrons will not only be impressed by the expansive exterior of the building, welcoming grounds, and impressive entrance, but they will be astonished once they set foot inside the venue.
Stunning Alpine Ash, reclaimed from the 2019/2020 bushfires, beautifully links the high ceilings, spacious restaurant and indoor bar, which flows through to the outdoor cider garden and timber deck. A series of feature windows provides comforting views over the orchard and enhances the warmth of the space.
“People love the immersive experience of parking in the orchard, walking through the apple trees, up into the building, and feeling like you are in a big apple bin,” said owner Dave Purcell.
He commented that everyone loves the quiet and aesthetically calming space. “A lot of comments about the alpine ash, and the timber, it's been a real feature.”
The Cider House offers a casual dining menu that complements its produce, and patrons can sample ice-cold hand-crafted cider directly from the tap.
“Pizzas in particular have been well received, Italian style, thin-based,” said Dave when describing the popular menu.
“Craig (chef) in the kitchen has been doing a really good job. He’s been with us from when we had the original roadside stall, he’s got a really good following, and the food's been a standout.”
“People just love the whole experience, and it's been really well supported by the locals. It’s such a buzz, it’s a big thing, new life in the town, five years on from the fires, it's really positive to see new things and people have been well supportive.”
Every aspect of the new building has intrigued guests, down to the colourful apple-themed bathroom décor, which has been a talking point among some patrons.
To complete the visit, guests can peruse the Cider House gift shop for apple-related produce, cider, and condiments.
“We've got a Worcestershire sauce made out of Granny Smith apples, we did a collaboration with Hold Fast Distillery for cherry vodka, which has been popular, and our award-winning ciders, our Kingston Black that’s on tap has been selling well.”
The Apple Thief has won numerous awards for their cider, including gold at the Royal Easter Show for their Kingston Black and Lemon Myrtle, plus the Kingston Black winning the varietal cider at the Australian Cider Awards.
Work on the new building began in mid-2024 and has supported economic recovery, job creation, and local business stimulation. Funding for The Apple Thief Batlow Cider House development was achieved from a successful Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Fund application by The Apple Thief. The BLER Fund, established after the 2019/2020 bushfires that tore through the Snowy Valleys and notably the town of Batlow and is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
The grant program required matched funding, which Dave Purcell, founder of The Apple Thief Cider, invested in the project and backed himself to ensure the success of the business. Alongside his wife Mel, and two children, Jack and Sam, this small family business had a vision for Batlow, and the initiative turned a negative experience into a positive one.
“The impact of the bushfires will always be with me, my family, and with this community, but through this venture, we have tried to support the resilience of Batlow by creating this new business, which will bring visitors to our town and encourage the recovery of our region.”
For more information and to book, visit the website.
www.theapplethief.com.au
