Some strive for years to build up a successful business – others find it grow almost without them trying. Phil and May Turner whose business Turner’s Cider has proved so popular, it almost took them by surprise.

There are humble beginnings for a business – and then there’s the garden shed.

Phil and May Turner’s shed in Marden just happened to be where they started making cider, just for themselves and for friends initially.

Living in the Kent countryside, surrounded by apples and orchards, it was tempting for the pair, who are very much into using local produce and growing their own vegetables.

Neither envisaged that it would grow into such a successful business – Turner’s Cider – three years later.

Phil, 39, said: “It just kind of took off. We have access to terrific fruit and farmers and producers to work with.

“It’s all here in this area, in this little village, in fact.”

Their first major order came from an unlikely source. The supplier for a Russian bar had tried Turner’s Cider at a pub in London and wanted to take it back with him.

“I kept getting these calls from a Russian number and I didn’t know what to make of them,” said Phil.

“But eventually he came and stood in our garden shed and ordered 1,000 bottles. I said to him ‘I don’t make 1,000 bottles!’”

With orders rolling in, the business, now based at Little Mill Farm off Pattenden Lane industrial estate in Marden, made 50,000 litres of cider over the last two years, bottling 30,000 units.

The product ranges from pear cider to medium and dry, and elderflower to sweet.

Using apples grown nearby, mainly old English varieties, such as russets, there is feverish activity during picking from September.

The apples are sent for pressing to Owletts in Lamberhurst, returning by tractor.

But despite the growth of the firm, often the labour is carried out by Phil and May: from bottling to sticking labels – printed locally onto them.

“It is just a nice family business,” said Phil. “And it keeps us close to home while the kids are young.”

THE DAY

He starts his day making breakfast for his children, Wilfred and Teddy, before driving five minutes down the road to the cidery at about 9am. The priority is always to put a record on. Depending on his mood it could be Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. If he is bottling, he will try to get some extra help.

“The equipment we use is pretty labour-intensive,” he said. When not bottling he might be the only one there, testing and racking the ciders, blending, labelling or maybe getting ready for an event.

“But it’s never solitary,” he said. “There are always people dropping in to say hi and see what we’re up to.”

On delivery days, he can be on the road all day. He goes to London every week or two and all over Kent each week.

“When we go to events that’s the sociable side. I’m running a bar, chatting to people and converting them into cider drinkers, hopefully. It’s hard work and long hours but it’s a good life.”

THE CV

Phil Turner
Lives: Marden
School: Manchester Grammar School
Family: Married to May, two boys, Wilfred aged seven and Teddy aged three
First job: Journalist
First salary: £13,500
Salary now: £30,000
Car: Mercedes 420SL
Favourite book: The Great Gatsby
Favourite film: Goodfellas
Music you like: Bob Dylan
Gadget you like: “Not really a gadget guy, though I couldn’t get by without my iPhone.”
Last holiday: Andalucia, Spain
Charity: Muscular Dystrophy UK