Nominations open for Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2026

Since 2021, Speciality Food has searched up and down the UK and Ireland for the finest independent cheesemongers to feature in our series, Independent Cheese Retailers – and we need your help for this year’s edition.

Nominations are now open for Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2026, and readers are invited to put forward their favourites here before entries close on 22nd May.

Over the last year, cheesemongers have had to navigate a tough trading environment, with rising overheads, importing challenges and even livestock disease rocking the sector.

But out of these challenging times has come no shortage of innovation and grit. Speciality Food is proud to spotlight the independent cheese sellers who are pushing boundaries and showcasing their passion for fine cheese.

What can you find inside Inspirational Cheese Retailers?

In Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025, we profiled 15 cheese shops that represent some of the best quality, experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to be found in the sector. Chosen by professionals and cheese-loving consumers, they were each hand-picked from dozens of nominations to represent their unique niche, from ‘The Community Builder’ to ‘The Educator’, ‘Passionate Newcomer’ to ‘The Experimenters’ – and many more.

Emmanuelle Metz, owner of Metz Cheesemonger in Farsley, was named ‘The Affineur’ and told us how supporting local and being in tune with the farmers and producers around her gives her a sense of purpose and meaning. “My first point when I was setting up the shop was to keep it local. I want to support artisan cheese.” 

For Emmanuelle, a Parisian native, creating signature cheeses is part and parcel of cheesemongering. She’s made cheeses injected with local gin, washed cheeses with Yorkshire whisky, and even partnered with a chocolatier to cap cheese thinly with dark chocolate. “It’s such a nice thing for me – exploring, and pushing the limits,” Emmanuelle says.

Florian de Poray, who runs Relish Delicatessen in St Helier, Jersey, won the title of ‘The Continental Expert’. After taking over in 2010, little by little he has put his stamp on the deli, and it’s no surprise, being so close to France, that customers have a keen interest in French cheeses.

He’s created a name for himself on the island by creating a relationship of trust with customers. “When they come in, they trust you have good taste and, generally, if they have a good time, haven’t been pressurised, and got everything they wanted, they will come back. If they wanted a hard cheese, we’d get them to try three to four different ones to see what they like.”

What he loves most is sharing his enthusiasm with everyone. “To see what they like and don’t like, and to guide them. It’s a lovely thing.”

The world of dairy can at times feel serious with so much history behind storied cheeses, but All in a Pickle’s founders Nicola and Darren Kellar, who operate in London, were named ‘The Fun Ones’.

They told us how they’ve grown by word of mouth, and customers are encouraged to try everything by the closeknit team. “Customers like our banter,” Darren says. “Everyone has a laugh in here, and we’ve got lots of regulars who’ve become good friends.”

Nominate your favourite cheese shop today

Whether it’s innovative ideas, a passion for community or something else entirely, each of the shops featured in Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025 had a fantastic story to tell – and we can’t wait to uncover more brilliant cheese shops just like them in 2026.

Do you know a star of a local cheese scene? A champion of Continental makers? A creative thinker or retail hero running a cheese shop?

Be sure to have your say and fill out our short form here to make your nominations today. It only takes a minute.

Entries close on 22nd May, so the clock is ticking to find the best cheese retailers in the UK and Ireland for Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2026.