On Friday 22 March, 600 British cheeses will be judged at the 28th edition of the prestigious British Cheese Awards, taking place at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Hosted this year by the new Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, which opens to the public on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March, the British Cheese Awards 2024 will be one of the largest ever showcases of British cheese.

Among this year’s entries from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are 25 brand new cheeses, which have launched since the last edition of the Awards. All cheese entries will be judged in a single day by a 63-strong judging panel, including cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators.

Entries will be judged in individual classes during round one, as the panel decides upon Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners, before all Gold winners are judged again to identify the category winners. Following a final round of judging with the category winners, the 2024 Supreme Champion will be selected and revealed during the British Cheese Awards Dinner on the evening of Friday 22 March.

Throughout the weekend, visitors to the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival will be able to view the British Cheese Awards judging hall and even sample some of the trophy winners, as they enjoy a celebration of the South West’s farmers, producers and purveyors. Away from the judging area, the festival will also feature demonstrations and presentations on everything from pairings and baking to cooking on a budget.

The line up for the inaugural Food & Drink Festival will include TV presenter and Great British Bake Off contestant, Briony May Williams, food & drink broadcaster Nigel Barden and comedian George Egg. The Farmhouse Tavern will showcase beverages of all kinds, and the Little Foodies zone will keep families entertained, while anyone wandering around the food and drink stands will also encounterthe comedic Liver Cottage Mobile Kitchen, creating fusion food on the move.

British Cheese Awards 2024 statistics:
• 28th edition of the competition
• 600 cheese entries
o Cheddar - 76
o Territorial cheeses - 42
o Blue cheeses – 48
o Soft white cheeses – 36
o Added flavour cheeses – 62
o Fresh cheeses – 19
o Modern cheeses – 53
o New cheeses – 25

• 81 producers
o England – 67
o Ireland – 5
o Scotland – 3
o Wales – 6

• 63 judges

The British Cheese Awards, organised by The Royal Bath & West Society, will take place on Friday 22 March at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, with the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival open to the public over the weekend of 23-24 March. Tickets are be available to purchase from www.bathandwest.com/tickets.