Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Gibson BC

Gibson Cider Houses

Gibsons, BC is a small coastal town on the Sunshine Coast known for its harbour views, arts community, and easy access from Vancouver. It sits where Howe Sound meets the Strait of Georgia and has a population of about 4,758 people as of 2021

Gibsons is the main entry point to the Sunshine Coast, reached by a 40‑minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, followed by a short drive into town. The community is built on a hillside overlooking islands and the harbour, giving it a distinctive layered, waterfront look

Gibson is where the TV show the Beachcombers was filmed.

The ciderhouse is know for its special events. Celebrating all the holidays.

There are three cider houses in Gibson, Banditry Cider, Sunday Cider and Persephone Cider Works

Banditry Cider

Banditry Cider is a craft cidery in the heart of Gibsons, BC, known for its orchard setting, high‑quality small‑batch ciders, and relaxed, family‑friendly atmosphere. It’s one of the standout cider destinations on the Sunshine Coast. Owned by Jamie Armstrong a local boy and Kim Scarrow

Why the name A flock of Chickadees is known as a “Banditry”, and birds like the chickadee make up the apex predators in our pest management system, predating on the coddling moth. It’s also our logo.

While Jamie was born and raised in Halfmoon Bay, he spent the majority of his adult years abroad. Jamie's career in agricultural development took him to South America, where he helped smallholder farmers bring their products to market. Back on the Coast now, he’s excited to grow roots with his young family in Gibsons.

Kim's answer to "what do you want to be when you grow up?" was always "Farmer". Despite being raised in the city, she always found ways to talk to the plants. In 2009-2020, her chronic illness led her to found and operate Modo Yoga Vancouver, a beloved hot yoga studio in Kitsalano.

The Orchard itself was planted as an experimental orchard in 2015 with over 400 heritage fruit trees and a huge diversity of species. When Kim and Jamie purchased the land in early 2020, they saw huge potential for a Cidery, and when the pandemic hit, they dove in to the project with full exuberance.
Kim & Jamie have a combined background in agricultural development, construction, and social enterprise, and are eager to grow roots on the sunshine coast where their kids can grow up to truly understand the meaning of community.

The 40 varietals of heritage fruit trees were lovingly planted by the previous owners with a cidery in mind, There are some rare perry pear trees, a large variety of semi-dwarf cider apple trees, plums, cherries, quince, and table apples too. The orchard surrounds a winding pond with bridges, and a tiny island we've dubbed "cider island". Birdwatching is always a favourite pastime of ours on the farm.

They produce Clean, Crisp, Approachable Apple Cider. All on the semi-dry side. Currently 3 ciders are on tap are our Semi-dry apple, Bramble & Bine (Hopped Blackberry) our Petal and Root (Ginger Hibiscus).

Matt Cavers is the cider master. He is a beloved Gibsons resident, with a long history of making cider and Brewing Beer on the sunshine coast.

Philosophy: We believe in investing the time and energy it takes to make a cider that tastes delicious and looks beautiful, using top-quality ingredients and time-honoured techniques.

Persephone Brewing Company

Persephone Cider Works is the cider-making arm of Persephone Brewing Company, operating from the same farm property at 1053 Stewart Road in Gibsons, BC. It’s officially recognized as a winery/cidery under BC’s wine authority, even though most visitors know the site primarily as a brewery.

The primary owner is Brain Smith. he name Persephone was chosen to pay homage to the log salvage boat in the Beachcombers, as a symbol of the values and lifestyle upheld on the Sunshine Coast. As well, the Greek myth of Persephone (daughter of Dimeter and Zeus), goddess of spring vegetation, works neatly with our situation on a farm and our ability to grow farm fresh beer.

Sunday Cider

Three friends started pressing BC apples together every Sunday, which eventually grew into the cidery’s name and identity. The cidery sits just outside Gibsons along Highway 101—easy to spot thanks to the big apple out front.

•Clinton McDougall — A food & beverage entrepreneur also known for co‑founding Bestie, a sausage and beer parlour in Vancouver. He’s been involved with Sunday Cider since 2013.
• Dane Brown — Longtime friend and collaborator in the project.
• Patrick Connelly — Part of the original trio who began making cider together on Sundays.

Sunday Cider leans heavily into a destination-style experience: a forest‑surrounded picnic area, food trucks, and a relaxed outdoor vibe. Concentrating everything in one place helps them maintain that identity and keep production small‑batch and consistent.

Cider is genuinely popular and growing quickly in British Columbia, and the trend is especially visible in regions like the Okanagan, Vancouver Island, and the Lower Mainland. Canada’s cider market overall is projected to grow at over 4% annually from 2024–2029, and BC is one of the strongest contributors to that growth
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