Cheese Lovers:
Make the most of the weekend
Six Steps to Maximum Enjoyment
Calling all Cheese Lovers! Join the movement supporting small cheesemakers and get yourself involved in this year’s Big Cheese Weekender. You’ll discover some great cheeses and have fun along the way. Here’s how…
Step 1: Choose your events
With the line up now confirmed, it’s time to plan your Big Cheese Weekender viewing. There are loads to choose from, like cookalongs with chefs, virtual tours or kicking back with some great cheese and wine. You can browse them all on our what’s on page or download the whole programme. Not sure what to join? Check out the themed ideas below to get you started.
Holden Farm Dairy: Hafod’s Patrick Holden on the farm
farm tour Holden Farm Dairy: Hafod’s Patrick Holden on the farm 3.30pm friday 23rd april Exploring the landscape and farming practice that influence the character…
The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co: The Only Cheddar Made In Cheddar
VIRTUAL TASTING The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co: The Only Cheddar Made In Cheddar 8.30pm saturday 24th april Discover how our cheese is made by hand…
Feltham’s Farm: Branding Cheese & Live Cheese Tasting
VIRTUAL TASTING Feltham’s Farm: Branding Cheese & Live Cheese Tasting 4.00pm sunday 25th april Penny & Marcus of Feltham’s Farm tell us how they branded…
White Lake Cheese: The Goat’s Cheese Journey from Milk to Mould
VIRTUAL TASTING White Lake Cheese: The Goat’s Cheese Journey from Milk to Mould 4.30pm sunday 25th april Join Roger for an insight to White Lake…
Sharpham cheese & wine: What grows together, goes together
VIRTUAL TASTING Sharpham cheese & wine: What grows together, goes together 8.30pm sunday 25th april Greg Parsons from Sharpham Dairy & Tom Wedgery from Sharpham…
Moor Home Truths About Real Cheese, with James Grant, No2 Pound Street
VIRTUAL TOUR Moor Home Truths About Real Cheese, with James Grant, No2 Pound Street 3.30pm FRIday 7th October James visits Carolyn and Leonie Fairbairn, of…
The Old Cheese Room Cooks For The Season: Jersey Curd Pumpkin Cheesecake
cookalong The Old Cheese Room Cooks For The Season: Jersey Curd Pumpkin Cheesecake 4.00 pm FRIDAY 7th October Join Julianna from The Old Cheese Room…
Burt’s Cheese: Pushing The Boundaries With Blues
TASTING Burt’s Cheese: Pushing The Boundaries With Blues 5.00pm FRIday 7th October Join cheesemaker and Burt’s Cheese founder, Claire Burt, as she takes us on…
Continental Curiosities with Tom Chatfield
TASTING Continental Curiosities with Tom Chatfield 5.30pm friday 7th October Take a journey into some lesser known cheeses from Continental Europe, with Tom Chatfield, international…
Tour of Rogue Creamery: An Exclusive Visit To The Home Of The “World’s Best Cheese”
VIRTUAL TOUR Tour of Rogue Creamery: An Exclusive Visit to the Home of the “World’s Best Cheese” 8.30pm FRIday 7th October Join Marguerite Merritt, Cheese…
The Cheese Society & Lincolnshire Poacher: The Variables of Making Raw Milk Cheese
TASTING The Cheese Society & Lincolnshire Poacher: The Variables of Making Raw Milk Cheese 4.30pm saturdAY 7th October A restaurant cheese course is a thing…
Belton Farm 100 years of Cheesemaking
TASTING Belton Farm 100 years of Cheesemaking 5.00pm saturday 8th October The Beckett family have been making cheese at Belton Farm in Shropshire for 100…
Passendale: The Secrets & Traditions of a Belgian Creamery, with Hans Depraeter
VIRTUAL TOUR Passendale: The Secrets & Traditions of a Belgian Creamery, with Hans Depraeter 6.00pm Saturday 8th October Hans DEPRAETER, Cheesemaker at Passendale, is opening…
Lynher Dairies, Adapting Whilst Remaining Familiar
TASTING Lynher Dairies, Adapting Whilst Remaining Familiar 7.30pm sunday 9th October Join the Mead Family, as they introduce you to Lynher Dairies and talk through…
The Courtyard Dairy Explores Farmhouse Wensleydale
TASTING The Courtyard Dairy Explores Farmhouse Wensleydale 8.00pm sunday 9th October Join Kathy and Ben Spence from the Wensleydale Creamery as they give a guided…
Opies: Proper pickles – a cheese and pickle masterclass
MASTERCLASS Opies: Proper pickles – a cheese and pickle masterclass 6.00PM FRIDAY 23RD APRIL Join cheese writer Patrick McGuigan as he goes in search for…
I.J.Mellis: A cheese and whisky night cap with Rory Mellis
VIRTUAL TASTING I.J.Mellis: A cheese and whisky night cap with Rory Mellis 9.30pm friday 23rd april Join the crew at Edinburgh cheesemongers IJ Mellis as…
Tracklements: The magic spoonful: perfect cheese and condiment matches
VIRTUAL TASTING Tracklements: The magic spoonful: perfect cheese and condiment matches 6.00pm saturday 24th april Guy Tullberg, owner of Tracklements, and cheese writer Patrick McGuigan…
Quirky Cheese and Wine Pairing: WSET School London and Charlie Turnbull, Academy of Cheese
VIRTUAL TASTING Quirky Cheese and Wine Pairing: WSET School London and Charlie Turnbull, Academy of Cheese 9.30pm saturday 24th april Discover three more adventurous wine…
Peter’s Yard and The Cheese Geek: The perfect British cheeseboard
VIRTUAL TASTING Peter’s Yard and The Cheese Geek: The perfect British cheeseboard 6.00pm sunday 25th april Wendy (Co-Founder of Peter’s Yard) and Edward (Founder of The…
Paxton & Whitfield and Berry Bros. & Rudd: cheese & wine pairing masterclass
VIRTUAL TASTING Paxton & Whitfield and Berry Bros. & Rudd: cheese & wine pairing masterclass 7.00pm sunday 25th april Join experts from Paxton & Whitfield…
Mark Hix: Black Cow Dorset fondue & cocktails
masterclass Mark Hix: Black Cow Dorset fondue & cocktails 7.30pm sunday 25th april Chef Mark Hix is joined by Archie from Black Cow Vodka to…
Sharpham cheese & wine: What grows together, goes together
VIRTUAL TASTING Sharpham cheese & wine: What grows together, goes together 8.30pm sunday 25th april Greg Parsons from Sharpham Dairy & Tom Wedgery from Sharpham…
Patrick McGuigan & WSET: Cheese & Wine 101
TASTING Patrick McGuigan & WSET: Cheese & Wine 101 8.00pm FRIDAY 7th October Join cheese writer and co-founder of Big Cheese Weekender, Patrick McGuigan, and…
The Trethowan Brothers & Chris George of Cork & Crown present: A Cheese and Cider Pairing Masterclass
TASTING The Trethowan Brothers & Chris George of Cork & Crown present: A Cheese and Cider Pairing Masterclass 8.30pm sATURDAY 8th October Artisan cheesemonger and cider expert…
Spirit of Wales: Intriguing Pairings From The Teifi Valley
TASTING Welsh cheese expert Owen Davies of Ty Caws join the team at Caws Teifi Cheese for a night cap or two. 9.00pm SATURDAY 8th…
Culture & Culture: British Cheese & Japanese Food / Drink Pairing
Masterclass British Cheese & Japanese Food / Drink Pairing 3.30pm Sunday 9th October Kanako, Academy of Cheese Japanese Training Partner, explores the new world of…
The Fine Cheese Co. and Nick Bayne: “Brandy & Cheese – Yes Please!”
Masterclass The Fine Cheese Co. and Nick Bayne: “Brandy & Cheese – Yes Please!” 5.30pm sUNDAY 9th October Got a cupboard full of brandy bottles…
Not All Bread Is Created Equal: A Cheese & Bread Pairing Masterclass
masterclass Not All Bread Is Created Equal: A Cheese & Bread Pairing Masterclass 6.00pm Sunday 9th October Join Gilles Quillot, French Embassy Head Chef and…
No2 Pound Street: James Grant & Chef James Golding make Mozzarella & Pizza with Buffalo Man Jon Corpe
masterclass No2 Pound Street: James Grant & Chef James Golding make Mozzarella & Pizza with Buffalo Man Jon Corpe 7.00pm saturday 24th april Join The “Buffalo…
Cheddar – the perfect ingredient with cheesemonger Andy Swinscoe and chef Tommy Banks
VIRTUAL TASTING Cheddar – the perfect ingredient with cheesemonger Andy Swinscoe and chef Tommy Banks 7.30pm friday 23rd april Join Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks and…
Simon Rogan: Simon Rogan’s Westcombe Cheese Dumplings
VIRTUAL TASTING Simon Rogan: Simon Rogan’s Westcombe Cheese Dumplings 7.30pm saturday 24th april Simon Rogan, the internationally renowned two Michelin starred chef, will be demonstrating…
Mark Hix: Black Cow Dorset fondue & cocktails
masterclass Mark Hix: Black Cow Dorset fondue & cocktails 7.30pm sunday 25th april Chef Mark Hix is joined by Archie from Black Cow Vodka to…
The Cheese Barge: Aligot Cooking Demo
VIRTUAL TASTING The Cheese Barge: Aligot Cooking Demo 4.30pm saturday 24th april Join Cheese Bar founder Mathew Carver at his new floating restaurant The Cheese…
The Fine Cheese Co: Boarding School The Art Of The Cheeseboard
VIRTUAL TASTING The Fine Cheese Co: Boarding School The Art Of The Cheeseboard 8.00pm saturday 24th april Join The Fine Cheese Co.’s Nick Bayne for…
Grape & Fig: Art of the British cheese grazing board
VIRTUAL TASTING Grape & Fig: Art of the British cheese grazing board 4.30pm friday 23rd april Create the perfect Cheese & Charcuterie Platter using the…
Quickes: A new framework for tasting cheese
VIRTUAL TASTING Quickes: A new framework for tasting cheese 5.00pm Friday 23rd april Join Mary Quicke as she unveils a simple new tool to chart…
Katie Quinn: The Magic of Fermentation
MASTERCLASS Katie Quinn: The Magic of Fermentation 3.30 PM | SATURDAY 24TH APRIL Join Katie Quinn, the author of “Cheese, Wine, & Bread: Discovering the…
Patrick McGuigan: Lockdown cheeses – how the pandemic led to a new generation of British cheeses
VIRTUAL TASTING Patrick McGuigan: Lockdown cheeses – how the pandemic led to a new generation of British cheeses 9.00pm saturday 24th april There’s been a wave…
Academy of Cheese: An Introduction to Cheesemaking with Paul Thomas
masterclass Academy of Cheese: An Introduction to Cheesemaking with Paul Thomas 5.00pm sunday 23rd april Let dairy technologist and Academy of Cheese technical director Paul…
Ethical Dairy: Closing the Loop
masterclass Ethical Dairy: Closing the Loop 5.30pm sunday 25th april David & Wilma Finlay of The Ethical Dairy explain the organic farming system behind their…
The changing face of British cheese with Max Melvin of La Fromagerie.
VIRTUAL TASTING The changing face of British cheese with Max Melvin of La Fromagerie 8.00pm sunday 25th april Join Max Melvin of legendary cheesemongers La…
After the crisis: the future of British cheese
debate After the crisis: the future of British cheese 9.00pm sunday 25th april Cheese writer Patrick McGuigan discusses what the future holds for artisan cheesemakers…
The Crafty Cheese Man – A Crafty Look Into Supplying Hospitality, Live From The Can
Masterclass A Crafty Look Into Supplying Hospitality, Live From The Can 4.30pm FRIday 7th October A restaurant cheese course is a thing of beauty. Join…
Cheesemaking: A History Told Through Tasting, with Katy Fenwick
masterclass Cheesemaking: A History Told Through Tasting, with Katy Fenwick 4.00pm Sunday 9th October A whistle-stop tour of cheese making through the ages, with Academy…
Step 2: Order some cheese
With the Big Cheese Weekender just around the corner, it’s time to get some cheese in. But, how do you choose? We know, with so many great cheeses available from so many interesting makers, where do you start! Well, here are a few ideas to help you…
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Buy British Cheese
Our retail sponsors stock some of the best British cheese available.
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Where to buy Cheese Directory
Looking for a local place to buy cheese? We are building a directory of Cheese Makers & Mongers to help you find the cheese you need.
Where to buy Cheese Directory
Free directory of cheesemakers and cheese retailers from the Academy of Cheese.
Step 3: Enter to Win
We all love a competition. And, this year some of our guest speakers have come up trumps, each offering a chance to win a generous selection of their products. Enter for a chance of winning
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Step 4: Connect (And Share The Cheese Love)
The excitement is building around this year’s events across social media, search for the hashtag #BigCheeseWeekender on twitter, Instagram or facebook and join in the cheese chat. The more people using the hashtag the wider the reach for great cheese – Let’s get it trending.
Step 5: Impress Your Neighbours
Show people that you are supporting the Big Cheese Weekender. Download, print and display them in your window.
Posters. Download, Print & Display
Show people that you are supporting the Big Cheese Weekender. Download, print and display.
Step 6: Watch, Taste, Cook – Enjoy
That’s it your all set. Hopefully you have selected some events to join, have some cheese in the fridge and you are ready to taste along with our Cheese Professionals. Wait, one last thing. Whilst you enjoying the events, why not record your tasting notes and taste along like a pro using the Academy Of Cheese’s Tasting Toolkit
Tasting Toolkit
Three useful tools from the Academy Of Cheese to help you taste cheese like a pro before, during and after the Big Cheese Weekender.
Enormous thanks to our Patrons. We wouldn’t be here without you!
Connect & Share
If you like what you see and eat, please shout about it on social media using the hashtag #BigCheeseWeekender. And do please keep buying good cheese: now, for the festival and afterwards!