Victorious Cheesemakers

Figures also indicate that 90% are made using vegetarian rennet and there were also 183 raw milk cheeses amongst the entries.

A 60-strong panel of cheese buyers, journalists (including Speciality Food Magazine’s Nicola Whiteford), chefs and food critics decided on the winning entries.

The award for Supreme Champion, sponsored for the first time by Marks & Spencer, went to Quenby Hall Stilton, the smallest and newest producer of Stilton.

“I’ve been eating Stilton all my life, and I decided if I was going to make it I was going to make it properly,” said Freddie de Lisle, owner of Quenby Hall.

There were also 18 other categories endorsing the growing prowess of British cheese-making: 66 entries were awarded Gold medals.

Top awards include:

Best English Cheese, won by an aged, clothbound Red Leicester from Long Clawson and Best New Cheese Retailer Award, which went to The Town Mill Cheesemongers in Lyme Regis.

Tim Rowcliffe of Anthony Rowcliffe and Son was also named Cheese Person of the Year.

“I have known Tim since I started in the industry in 1983 and he has always been hugely supportive of British cheesemakers. He never blows his own trumpet, often giving others credit for work he does,” said Juliet Harbutt. “This is a chance for everyone in the industry to say ‘Well done and thanks Tim’,” she added.

Speciality Food Magazine also reclaimed the title of Best Media Award. The four page special on British Cheese was written by Nicola Whiteford.

All awards can be viewed on thecheeseweb.com