Misty Moon Cider is a drinks producer in Farnham that turns surplus fruit into thirst-quenching products. Thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, the business is investing in new equipment. This will help is scale up, increasing production by six times.
There’s been a bumper crop of apples this season thanks to the hottest summer on record. So a business growth grant from Surrey County Council came at the perfect time for craft drinks producer Misty Moon Cider.
Kathryn Lockett founded the drinks brand in 2021, making sustainable craft cider from surplus garden and orchard apples in Farnham. She wanted to reduce food waste and make use of the area’s abundant apple stocks by creating an artisan cider.
Starting out producing 200 bottles in 2024, the investment will help the business scale up to produce up to 12,000 bottles in 2025. And there will be kegs for pubs and bars by 2026.
Kathryn, who is an international development consultant by day, has been able to invest in new pressing and brewing equipment for Misty Moon.
Before receiving the funding, Kathryn and a small team were pressing and bottling all the cider by hand using small-scale equipment.
“Our new equipment means we don’t have to do everything by hand anymore. It means we’re going to have over 6,000 litres of Misty Moon Cider to sell next year,” Kathryn said.
The funds have also gone towards hiring more student workers in the area. They have helped to pick and press the apples, in what has been a ‘monumental harvest’ this year.
Misty Moon Cider: rooted in nature
Kathryn said: “This is something we started about four years ago, motivated by a love of locally produced craft cider.”
She also wanted to do something to protect the area’s apple trees. Kathryn explained that Farnham has a long history of apple trees and orchards, but many of these have now disappeared.
When people have too many apples from their trees that fall, rot and attract pests, these also risk being cut down.
Misty Moon Cider was the perfect solution, allowing people to donate their surplus apples, avoiding food waste and helping to protect the area’s precious trees.
“This year there’s been a massive crop of apples,” Kathryn said.
As well as donations from people’s gardens, Misty Moon partners with community-based organisations too.
“We get apple donations from the Countryside Regeneration Trust, National Trust Swan Barn and the Enton Community Orchard, where we also help them care for the orchard in partnership with the charity COPSE.
“We’ve just collected 4,500 tonnes of apples in a week that would have just rotted. And we give the apple pomace to the Hairy Pig Company in Guildford, so nothing goes to waste.
“We’re very much about making delicious cider, supporting the community, protecting trees and preventing food waste.”
Misty Moon Cider and local businesses
Misty Moon Cider was first sold at the Farnham Sustainable Festival in 2023. Now it’s stocked in Wine Rack, Hogs Back Brewery Shop, the Star Pub in Godalming and the London Cider House in Borough Market.
Misty Moon Cider is also served at the Michelin ‘Maison’ Restaurant in Farnham.
Support from Surrey’s local independent businesses has been crucial to Misty Moon. And local events are a mainstay for the business, with stands at Farnham Food Festival and various events at Gostrey Meadows.
The grant has made a huge difference to the business. Kathryn said: “It has given us the professional bottling stock of 2,600 bottles that we have been selling this year which has meant we can sell to more people in more places.
“It’s paid for our student workforce which has enableds us to bring in this monumental harvest.
“And crucially, we’ve been able to buy this amazing new equipment, meaning we do not have to hand process everything. It was getting unfeasible doing everything by hand.
“It will give us the boost we need to produce enough stock to keep our product costs down, expand into new markets and get our brand known more.”
Kathryn added: “Cider making is one of the oldest UK industries, it’s around 3,000 years old, and we have everything we need for it right here in Surrey – the apples, the tools, the knowledge.
“However, it is really challenging for small businesses like ours to compete with much larger producers. As such we always encourage people to buy local, support local businesses and support local brewing, whilst enjoying a deliciously tasty Misty Moon Cider.”
About the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Do you have a business idea that can drive growth across Surrey?
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund from Surrey County Council has the sole focus of driving economic growth across the region.
Applications are now live for the Business Growth Grant scheme, closing at midnight on 16 November 2025.
It is open to all small and medium size businesses in Surrey.
The award is a match-funded grant of between £10,000 and £75,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Funding can support:
- Purchasing new equipment or technology
- Developing new products or services
- Expanding operations or facilities
- Investing in staff training and upskilling
We particularly welcome applications from rural businesses, farms, and those contributing to the rural economy.
Questions? Get in touch via our Contact Us form.
