Aston Manor Cider
British cider brand
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Aston Manor Cider, legally Aston Manor Limited and historically associated with the name Aston Manor Brewery, is a British cider, perry and beverage-bottling business based in Birmingham, England. The company was established in 1981 by four former employees of Ansells after the closure of Ansells’ Aston Cross brewery. It opened a replacement brewing site at Thimble Mill Lane in Birmingham and initially operated as a beer brewer before progressively concentrating its activities on cider and perry. The business developed through a combination of branded cider production, manufacturing scale-up and acquisitions. By the late 1990s, cider represented most of its sales, and the company’s performance subsequently benefited from increased demand for cider in the United Kingdom. In 2009 it acquired the Devon Cider Company in Tiverton, Devon, adding production capacity and expanding its manufacturing footprint. It later invested in the agricultural and processing side of the business: in 2013 it planted approximately 1,000 acres of new orchards in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, using around 350,000 trees, and opened a fruit-processing and pressing facility at Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire. In 2014 the company moved its head-office and logistics operations to a site at Witton beside the M6 motorway in Birmingham. Aston Manor’s portfolio has included value-oriented white cider, mainstream packaged cider, premium and vintage products, perry, and flavored or more experimental products. Brands associated with the company include Frosty Jack’s, Kingstone Press, Friels First Press Vintage, Knights Malvern Gold, Crumpton Oaks and 3 Hammers. The company has also provided bottling and manufacturing services. In 2008 it was described as the United Kingdom’s third-largest cider company by market share and the fourth-largest globally, although such historical rankings should not be treated as current market-share data. The company’s history also includes a serious criminal case. In 2001, shareholder and former managing director Michael Hancocks organized a plot to contaminate products made by rival cider producer H. P. Bulmer. The scheme was reported before any contamination occurred. Hancocks was convicted of conspiracy to defraud, imprisoned for 18 months and removed from Aston Manor’s board. The incident concerned individuals connected with the company rather than a product recall or confirmed contamination of Aston Manor goods. Management passed from Peter Ellis, son of football executive Doug Ellis, to Gordon Johncox in 2013. Ellis remained executive chairman until his death in 2017, while James Ellis served as financial director and Rod Clifford as cider production director according to the cited historical account. In August 2018, Aston Manor Cider was acquired by Agrial, a French agricultural cooperative. The transaction placed the business within Agrial’s wider food and beverage portfolio. Aston Manor is therefore best understood today as an operating cider and bottling business under Agrial ownership, rather than as an independent beer brewery.
History
Aston Manor was formed in 1981 by four former Ansells employees following the closure of Ansells’ Aston Cross brewery in Birmingham. The founders established a new brewery at Thimble Mill Lane, initially continuing in beer production. In 1984, Herefordshire hop grower Michael Hancocks, who was also a supplier, acquired a stake in the company. His family later held a substantial shareholding. During the 1990s the company shifted increasingly toward cider. By 1998, cider accounted for approximately 70 percent of sales, and the company reported profits exceeding £1 million. A downturn in the market and strong competition reduced reported profits to £740,500 by 2001. The business subsequently recovered as demand for cider rose in the United Kingdom; by 2009, reported profits had exceeded £3 million. The early 2000s also brought a major criminal controversy. In 2001, Michael Hancocks organized a scheme to introduce a harmful yeast into the production process of rival H. P. Bulmer. The intended contamination could have caused gastrointestinal illness, but the plan was disclosed by an intended participant and stopped before implementation. Hancocks was convicted of conspiracy to defraud, sentenced to 18 months in prison and dismissed from Aston Manor’s board. Aston Manor expanded its production base in 2009 by acquiring the Devon Cider Company in Tiverton. In 2013 it invested in agricultural supply by planting approximately 1,000 acres of orchards across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, representing about 350,000 trees. Later that year it added fruit-processing and pressing capacity at Stourport-on-Severn. In 2014 the company consolidated its administrative and distribution activities at a new head office and logistics facility at Witton in Birmingham. The business became known for a broad cider and perry portfolio, including Frosty Jack’s, Kingstone Press, Friels First Press Vintage, Knights Malvern Gold, Crumpton Oaks and 3 Hammers. The company was described in 2008 as the United Kingdom’s third-largest cider company by market share and the fourth-largest in the world. In 2017, its products and manufacturing operations were reported to have received 29 awards. A management transition occurred in 2013, when Gordon Johncox took over as managing director from Peter Ellis. Ellis continued as executive chairman until his death in December 2017. In August 2018, French agricultural cooperative Agrial acquired Aston Manor Cider. The company is now characterized primarily as a cider maker and bottling business, rather than a beer brewery, with its historical brewing identity retained in the Aston Manor name.
- 2018
Acquired by Agrial
[1]French cooperative Agrial acquired Aston Manor Cider.
- 2014
Witton head office opens
[1]Aston Manor moved its head office and logistics operations to a new facility at Witton beside the M6 in Birmingham.
- 2013
Orchard and pressing investments
[1]The company planted new orchards in Worcestershire and Herefordshire and opened a fruit-processing and pressing facility at Stourport-on-Severn.
- 2009
Devon Cider Company acquired
[1]Aston Manor acquired the Devon Cider Company in Tiverton and expanded facilities at the site.
- 2001
Sabotage conspiracy leads to conviction
[1]Michael Hancocks was convicted over a plot to contaminate a rival’s cider production and was removed from the company board.
- 1998
Cider becomes the core business
[1]Cider accounted for approximately 70 percent of sales, while reported profits exceeded £1 million.
- 1984
Michael Hancocks takes a stake
[1]Herefordshire hop farmer and supplier Michael Hancocks bought into the company.
- 1981
Company established after Ansells brewery closure
[1]Four former Ansells employees founded the business after the closure of Ansells’ Aston Cross brewery in Birmingham.
Products and positioning
A British cider and perry producer combining large-scale branded beverage manufacturing with bottling, fruit sourcing and processing capabilities. Its portfolio spans value, mainstream, premium and specialty cider segments.
White cider
Frosty Jack's
Aston Manor’s white-cider brand and one of the company’s best-known value-oriented offerings. It represents the business’s role in producing high-volume packaged cider for the United Kingdom market.
Cider
Kingstone Press Cider
A mainstream cider brand associated with Aston Manor’s branded portfolio. Available information identifies it as one of the company’s principal cider products, but does not provide a complete current range description.
Vintage cider
Friels First Press Vintage
A vintage-style cider positioned above the company’s more value-focused products. The name emphasizes first pressing and a more premium or traditional cider presentation.
Specialty cider
Knights Malvern Gold
A specialty cider brand in Aston Manor’s historical product portfolio. The available reference identifies it as a product associated with the company but does not specify its current distribution or formulation.
Cider
Crumpton Oaks
A packaged cider brand included among Aston Manor’s established product lines. Further details on variants, markets and current ownership are not available in the supplied sources.
Cider
3 Hammers
A cider brand associated with Aston Manor’s portfolio. The supplied reference does not provide enough information to describe its product variants or present commercial status in detail.
Perry
Perry
A pear-based alcoholic beverage category produced by Aston Manor. Perry forms part of the company’s transition from its original beer-brewing activities toward an exclusive cider and perry manufacturing focus.
Controversies
2001
Attempted contamination plot involving H. P. Bulmer
Michael Hancocks, then a major shareholder and former managing director, organized a conspiracy to introduce a harmful yeast into rival H. P. Bulmer’s production line. The intended carrier reported the scheme, so no contamination took place. Hancocks was convicted of conspiracy to defraud, imprisoned for 18 months and dismissed from Aston Manor’s board.
Brand decisions
2018
Sale to AgrialM&ABackground
Aston Manor was an established British cider and bottling company operating across branded and manufacturing activities.
Action taken
French agricultural cooperative Agrial acquired Aston Manor Cider.
Aftermath
The business became part of Agrial’s wider group, while the supplied sources do not specify transaction consideration or subsequent organizational changes.
2014
Head-office and logistics relocationStrategyBackground
The company reorganized its administrative and distribution infrastructure in Birmingham.
Action taken
Aston Manor moved to a new head office and logistics facility at Witton beside the M6 motorway.
Aftermath
The move consolidated office and logistics functions at a location designed to support distribution.
2013
Investment in orchards and fruit processingStrategyBackground
The cider business increased investment in agricultural supply and processing capacity.
Action taken
Aston Manor planted approximately 1,000 acres of orchards using around 350,000 trees and added a pressing and fruit-processing facility at Stourport-on-Severn.
Aftermath
The investments strengthened the company’s control over fruit sourcing and preparation for cider production.
2009
Acquisition of Devon Cider CompanyM&ABackground
Aston Manor sought to expand its cider production footprint and acquired the Devon Cider Company in Tiverton.
Action taken
The company took over the Devon business and expanded manufacturing facilities at the Devon site.
Aftermath
The acquisition added production capacity and broadened Aston Manor’s geographic manufacturing base.
Sources2 sources
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