WESTONS Cider, one of Herefordshire most popular drinks brands, is celebrating after signing a big new deal with pub chain Wetherspoon.

Fans of Stowford Press, and the Mixed Berries fruit version, will soon be able to get a pint in any 'Spoons.

But the pub group, led by Tim Martin, will stop serving pints of Strongbow and John Smiths as part of a major shake-up of its drinks menu.

It brings an end to a 41-year association between Wetherspoon and Heineken, the company now behind Hereford cider brand Bulmers and Strongbow.

Wetherspoon had previously agreed long-term deals with current suppliers such as Carlsberg, Marston’s Brewing Company, Molson Coors and BrewDog.

The new deal has led to widespread changes to the Wetherspoons drink menu, which includes a number of omissions.

Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, Bud Light and Leffe Blonde can now be enjoyed by pub-goers, as can Mike’s Hard Seltzer, Bud Light Seltzer and Bathtub Gin.

It means the Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruits drinks will be swapped for the Westons alternatives.

A spokesperson for Westons, based in Much Marcle near Ledbury, said: "Free trade pub chain J D Wetherspoon have been reviewing their cider and beer supplies recently.

"Westons Cider is delighted to confirm that it has chosen Stowford Press kegs and Stowford Press Mixed Berries kegs to be stocked in all of its pubs.

"As the UK on trade continues to recover after all the disruption of the last 20 months, Wetherspoon has recognised that its customers will appreciate the high quality ciders supplied by Westons; produced in the traditional way from apples grown within 50 miles of our mill in Herefordshire."

"This changeover will be implemented so that Wetherspoon’s customers should be able to enjoy a pint of Stowford Press or Stowford Press Mixed Berries from the middle of December.

In a statement, Wetherspoon’s chairman Tim Martin said: “Budweiser Brewing Group UK will now become our biggest supplier, with new beers Budweiser, Corona and Leffe Blonde, in addition to their existing products, Stella Artois and Bud Light - as well as a range of bottled beers.

"We are also pleased to have agreed long-term supply deals with BrewDog, Westons Cider, Carlsberg and Molson Coors.

"Wetherspoon will continue to sell a wide range of traditional ales and craft beers from regional and micro brewers at competitive prices.

"We’re very pleased to have such a brilliant group of brewers supporting our efforts.”