The Best British Cheeses for Christmas

Cheese is great at any time of year but Christmas celebrations deserve for an extra special board. Here are some of our favourite finds

Peters Yard Sourdough Crispbreads, £2.95, Waitrose and ocado.com Made using all-natural ingredients, including slow-fermented sourdough, these flavoured crispbreads make great vessels for an array of cheeses.

Belton Farm Red Fox, £2.50, in-store at Waitrose and Tesco This handcrafted, aged Red Leicester has a firm texture and moreish taste. It’s fantastic with a dollop of chutney or a drizzle of honey.

Appleby’s Farmhouse Cheshire, £4.50 Waitrose.com Mellow and savoury, this award-winning Cheshire is mellow and zesty with a moist and crumbly texture. It tastes great with figs and dates, as the saltiness complements the sweetness of the fruit.

Cerney, £12.50, paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk A beautiful addition to your cheeseboard, this tasty cheese is coated with an ash and sea salt mix. It has a dense texture with a citrus flavour, and complements sweeter cheeses perfectly.

Delamere Dairy Farmhouse Mild Goats’ Cheese, £2.70, ocado.com This creamy cheese is great for melting or using in salads.

Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue, £13 per 700g, shepherdspurse.co.uk Smooth, mild and buttery, this is a great introduction to the fragrant flavour of blue cheese.

Alsop and Walker Lord London, £13.26 from Fin & Farm or buy direct from Borough Market A semi-soft cheese with a natural creaminess and a clean citrus taste. Wonderful with a tangy, festive chutney.

Cropwell Bishop Organic Stilton, prices vary, for full list visit cropwellbishopstilton.co.uk This creamy stilton is smooth and mellow, but can still stand up to fruity chutneys. It also makes a flavoursome soup topping.

Dewlay Wensleydale with Cranberries, £1, in-store at Home Bargains Zesty and delicious, your festive cheeseboard isn’t complete without this seasonal favourite. It tastes as sweet as ever, and we love it on seasoned crackers.

Cheddar Gorge Oak Smoked Cheddar, £5.55, cheddaronline.co.uk With a sweet and smoky flavour, this Cheddar is a real crowd pleaser.

St Jude, £6.90 at Neals Yard Dairy or £7.50 in store at Paxton & Whitfield A French St Marcellin-style cheese, this is made by Julie Cheyney in Hampshire. Its mousse like texture makes it ideal for eating with crudites and fresh bread for dipping.

Godminster Truffle Cheddar, £7.50, in-store at Waitrose and online at ocado.com The rich and moreish flavours of this tasty truffle-infused Cheddar are divine. It will delight your taste buds and is glorious with a glass of red.

Colston Bassett Traditional Stilton, £12.65 per 475g, nealsyarddairy.co.uk Regarded as one of the best traditionally made Stiltons in the country, the mature taste of this crumbly cheese lingers on the palate.

Eve, £8.95, paxtonandwhitefield.co.uk This soft, bloomy-rinded cheese is just delicious. It’s washed with cider brandy and wrapped in a vine leaf for an eye-catching finish.

Wigmore, £8.80, paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk A sheep’s milk cheese with a slightly sweet yet flowery taste. The texture is fairly firm when young and runny when older.

Hawkshead Relish Christmas Chutney, from £3.90, hawksheadrelish.com The rich blend of dried apricots with onion, orange, cranberries, ginger, and other seasonal spices makes this a festive essential. It pairs deliciously with most cheeses, but we think its best with strong blues and creamy Cheddar.

We styled this board with Bloom & Wild’s beautiful Scented Foilage, £12.50, ocado.com