Judging at the British Cheese Awards 2025 – Friday 21st March

Last week our London Trade Account Manager, Georgina, headed down to the West Country to represent Paxton’s as a judge at the British and Irish Cheese Awards. We asked her to tell us about her day!

Castle Cary, usually the station for Glastonbury, took on a different role last week - welcoming cheesemongers, makers, buyers, and authors for the British Cheese Awards. Instead of festival-goers, the town was filled with experts ready to taste and judge the finest cheeses in the UK.

Judging spanned multiple rounds, from piquant blues to crumbly territorials. "Best Cheddar" was awarded to the Trethowan Brother's 'Pitchfork', with notes of grass and mustard seed, which you're lucky enough to be able to purchase online or from one of our Paxton & Whitfield's shops. And a well deserved ‘Reserve Champion’ was awarded to one of our team’s favourite Goat’s cheeses ‘Golden Cross’ made by  the Blunt Family in Sussex.

Judging goat’s curd was a particular highlight for me - an experience that reinforced my belief in the beauty of simplicity. There’s an incredible complexity in even the most seemingly straightforward cheeses, and I love uncovering those layers. Connecting with like-minded people who share this passion makes the experience even more rewarding. Plus, cheese is a never-ending learning journey! 

The awards are a true celebration of British cheesemaking, bringing together those who dedicate their lives to this craft. With so much passion in the room, it’s clear that the future of British cheese

A huge congratulations to all the winners, especially to the team at Kingstone Dairy who were crowned Supreme Champion!