MORE than 600 British cheese will be judged during the 28th edition of the British Cheese Awards. 

The awards are taking place at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on Friday, March 22. 

They are hosted this year by the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival which opens to the public on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. 

There are 25 brand new cheeses among this year's entries. All entries will be judged by a 63-strong judging panel, which includes 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. Then, 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, March 22.

Visitors to the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival will be able to sample some of the trophy winners cheeses, and view the British Cheese Awards judging hall. 

There are 600 cheese entries to the awards and these include: 

  • Cheddar - 76
  • Territorial cheeses - 42
  • Blue cheeses – 48
  • Soft white cheeses – 36
  • Added flavour cheeses – 62
  • Fresh cheeses – 19
  • Modern cheeses – 53
  • New cheeses – 25