Wadworth wins two Gold medals

Devizes-based brewer Wadworth is celebrating following the announcement that its Hop Cycle Garden entry in partnership with Sparsholt College in Hampshire has won Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015.

Part of the RHS Discovery zone (an interactive and informative part of The Great Pavilion focusing on plant science and education in a fun and involving way), the garden was also awarded ‘Best RHS Discovery Exhibit’.

Wadworth’s 6X sponsorship is behind the efforts of a team of 14 Extended Diploma horticulture students from Sparsholt who designed and built every aspect of the garden, which features heritage hops as its theme.

The garden features many aspects associated with Wadworth’s 140 year brewing heritage in Devizes, with a penny farthing inspired by founder Henry Wadworth who cycled from London to Bath in 1869, to original beer barrels, traditional hand pumps and a magnificent ‘Hop Cycle’ pub sign – hand painted by Wadworth’s talented in-house sign writers.

The ‘Hop Cycle’ display also includes two garden areas: one planted with species that make or flavour drinks, and the other a pub garden to relax and enjoy. Alongside a high standard of plantsmanship the garden also aims to educate visitors about how hops are grown, their fascinating history and the heritage of hops and beer within British culture.  

“We are absolutely thrilled with the news that the ‘Hop Cycle’ has been awarded Gold’’ says Paul Sullivan, Wadworth sales and marketing drector. "We are extremely proud to have been involved in such an exciting project for the Chelsea Flower Show and to have worked with the remarkably talented staff and students of Sparsholt College. A huge thank you to all of them for their hard work.’’

A second Gold

And the win at Chelsea isn’t the only Gold Wadworth are celebrating this week – with their seasonal winter ale ‘Old Timer’ having been awarded Gold at the SIBA South West Beer Competition in the Strong Ale category.

Rich copper brown in colour with a strong malty aroma and a full bodied, intense flavour, Old Timer is available in Wadworth pubs across the South and South West during December and January, and can also be purchased in 500ml bottles from regional branches of Morrisons and online at http://shop.wadworth.co.uk/

For more information on the ‘Hop Cycle’ garden and to view exclusive videos of how it was created visit http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/

19 May 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor