Britain makes some of the best cheese in the world and Christmas is the time to try it. These nine cover every part of a good cheeseboard: a cheddar, a soft cheese, a blue, a crumbly and something unusual. Every one is sold by independent cheese shops in our directory.
At a glance
- Hard: Montgomery's Cheddar, Kirkham's Lancashire, Cornish Yarg.
- Soft: Baron Bigod, Tunworth.
- Blue: Stilton, Young Buck.
- Something different: Stinking Bishop, Wensleydale with Christmas cake.
- When to buy: order by early December if it's being posted. Collect from a shop in the last few days before Christmas.
Montgomery's Cheddar
Made at Manor Farm in North Cadbury, Somerset from unpasteurised milk and wrapped in cloth while it matures. It's deep, nutty and savoury and a world away from supermarket cheddar. If your board only has room for one hard cheese, make it this one.
Buy from: Paxton & Whitfield, The Cheese Lady, Pong Cheese, The Mousetrap Cheese Shop and The Fine Cheese Co.
Stilton
The Christmas classic. Only four dairies make it, all in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Colston Bassett and Cropwell Bishop are the two most cheesemongers stock. Our Stilton for Christmas guide covers who makes it, whole or wedge and where to buy it.
Baron Bigod
A Brie de Meaux-style cheese made by the Crickmore family at Fen Farm near Bungay in Suffolk, from the milk of their Montbéliarde cows. When it's ripe it's soft and golden with an earthy, mushroomy flavour. It's the British answer to a French brie and makes a centrepiece on any board.
Buy from: Paxton & Whitfield.
Tunworth
A Camembert-style cheese that has won top awards since it was first made in Hampshire. It's now made by Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses in Lancashire. Rich, sweet and a little cabbagey when ripe. It's also very good baked in its box.
Buy from: Neal's Yard Dairy and Pong Cheese.
Cornish Yarg
Made by Lynher Dairies in Cornwall and wrapped in nettle leaves, which give it a striking pattern on the outside. It's fresh, lemony and crumbly near the centre and creamier under the rind. The name is the surname of Alan Gray, who revived the recipe, spelled backwards.
Buy from: Neal's Yard Dairy, Pong Cheese and The Cheese Lady.
Kirkham's Lancashire
A traditional crumbly Lancashire made by the Kirkham family near Preston. It's buttery and light with a gentle tang. It's a good choice for anyone who finds blue cheese too strong and it's excellent on toast on Boxing Day.
Buy from: Paxton & Whitfield.
Young Buck
A raw milk blue made by Mike Thomson near Newtownards in County Down, using milk from a local farm. It sits somewhere between Stilton and Roquefort and is one of the best blues made anywhere in the UK. It's a good swap for Stilton if you want something a little different.
Buy from: Mike's Fancy Cheese in Belfast (the maker's own shop), The Courtyard Dairy and Love Cheese.
Stinking Bishop
The famous smelly one. A soft washed-rind cheese from Dymock in Gloucestershire with its rind washed in perry. It tastes much milder than it smells and is the perfect "something unusual" for a Christmas board. See our Stinking Bishop guide for where to buy it.
Wensleydale with Christmas cake
In Yorkshire a slice of Christmas cake comes with a piece of Wensleydale. The fresh, crumbly cheese cuts through the rich fruit cake. If you've never tried it this is the year. Ask a Yorkshire cheesemonger for a farmhouse Wensleydale. See cheese shops in Yorkshire.
How to build a board from these
- For three cheeses pick Montgomery's Cheddar, Baron Bigod or Tunworth and Stilton or Young Buck.
- For five add Kirkham's Lancashire or Cornish Yarg and Stinking Bishop.
- Allow about 100g of cheese per person if it's the main event after dinner. Our Christmas cheeseboard guide covers how much to buy and how to keep it.
Stock of small makers' cheeses runs low before Christmas. If a shop has sold out, ask your local cheesemonger what they'd suggest instead. Find one near you on the homepage or browse cheese shops that deliver.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best British cheese for Christmas?
Stilton is the traditional choice. For a full board add a farmhouse cheddar such as Montgomery's and a soft cheese such as Baron Bigod or Tunworth.
Where can I buy British artisan cheese online?
Independent cheesemongers such as Paxton & Whitfield, Neal's Yard Dairy, The Cheese Lady and Pong Cheese all post across the UK. See cheese shops that deliver for more.
Is there a British alternative to brie?
Yes. Baron Bigod from Suffolk is made in the style of Brie de Meaux. Tunworth is a British Camembert-style cheese.
Why do people in Yorkshire eat cheese with Christmas cake?
It's a long-standing Yorkshire tradition. A fresh crumbly cheese such as Wensleydale balances the sweetness of the rich fruit cake.
When should I order cheese for Christmas?
Order by early December if it's being posted, as shops set last order dates and popular cheeses sell out. If you're collecting from a shop, buy soft cheeses as close to Christmas as you can.