Today marks National Cheese Lovers Day (20th January), and here in Oxford, we have every reason to celebrate. From the cheese counter in our historic Covered Market to cutting-edge artisan producers, cheesemongers and delis dotted across the city and the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside, living here is a paradise for anyone who appreciates a nice cheeseboard of an evening.
Whether you're choosy about cheddar, go barmy for a bit of blue, or it’s a good bit of ewe’s that’s for you, Oxfordshire has something rather special to offer.
A City That Created Its Own Cheese… Eventually
Oxford isn't just home to world-class universities – we've also produced a world-class cheese. But it’s a funny old story...
In 1995, Baron Robert Pouget – he who also created the brilliant, spicy Oxford Sauce (something that deserves much wider recognition!) – created Oxford Blue; his aim: to develop a creamy, milder alternative to traditional blue English cheeses like Stilton. Something, in fact, to rival the Roqueforts and St. Agur’s of his homeland.
Named for our city, and created by a fellow who may be a French Baron but has his heart firmly set here in the city, the Oxford Blue was actually developed at the famous Hartington Dairy in Derby, and produced there for many years until the dairy closed. Production moved temporarily to Wales, but the Baron was determined to bring his cheese home – and so he purchased an old barn just outside Burford, converted it (after some trials and tribulations) into his new dairy, and it is here that the Oxford Blue is now produced, right here in Oxfordshire.
Now one of England's most popular blue cheeses, it has twice won Gold at the British Cheese Awards, and remains a point of pride for any cheese lovers who call Oxford home. You'll find it gracing cheese boards across the country, but what can be better, on National Cheese Lovers Day, than enjoying a small wedge in the very city it was named for?
The Oxford Cheese Company, which produces the Oxford Blue, also produces Oxford Isis – a washed-rind cheese matured in mead with a bold, earthy character, and their range has expanded to include chutneys and accompaniments through the Oxford Provender brand- not least, that Oxford Sauce!
Just another of Oxford’s many quirks.
Where the Locals Shop
For over forty years, the Oxford Cheese Company’s cheese counter has been the beating heart of the cheese scene in the city. Located in the historic Covered Market, this gem of a shop supplies many of Oxford's colleges and finest restaurants.
The knowledgeable staff can guide you through their carefully curated selection of rare alpine cheeses and British farmhouse varieties, making it a destination for both tourists and discerning locals alike – so if you’re stuck wondering what to go for this National Cheese Lovers Day, take a trip down there on your break and feel free to ask them – they’ll be delighted to help you!
But the Oxford Cheese Company is not the only local cheesemonger worth a look.
Just a short stroll away on Little Clarendon Street, the Jericho Cheese Company focuses on British and Irish farmhouse cheeses. Their commitment to small-scale producers and traditional methods means every cheese has a story to tell.
They specialise in raw-milk varieties and cheeses from farms that prioritise sustainable, environmentally conscious practices – precisely the kind of attitude that makes Oxford tick.
Oxfordshire's Artisan Producers
Beyond the city centre, Oxfordshire's countryside is home to some remarkable cheesemakers. Nettlebed Creamery, just a twenty-minute drive away, produces organic artisan cheese, milk, and kefir on their farm. Their Cheese Shed café and shop offer refreshments and the chance to purchase their products directly from the source. Why not pop along one day for a cup of tea and a toastie, and see where their beautiful cheeses are made?
At Earth Trust Farm in Little Wittenham, local couple Fraser Norton and Rachel Yarrow hand-make small-batch goats' cheese from their own herd of pasture-fed Anglo-Nubian goats – known as the ‘Jersey Cow’ of goats, due to the richness and creaminess of the milk they produce. Their cheeses, including Brightwell Barrow and Sinodun Hill, are named after local landmarks (Sinodun Hill is an old name for the Wittenham Clumps, as most know them today), rooting their products firmly in our Oxfordshire landscape.
Making the Most with a Fine Local Pairing
We’re lucky to have some fantastic local cheese makers in this county of ours - but we are also producing great local wines too, to pair them with!
The Brightwell Vineyard near Wallingford started planting in the 1980s and has been owned by its current owners since the year 2000. Its chalky soil and sheltered low-lying valley landscape, sheltered between the Cotswolds and the Chilterns, make ideal growing conditions for many grape varieties.
Their Pinot Noir has been rated in the Top 5 UK Red Wines (2024), and is a great pairing with an Oxford Blue.
For a great local white wine, we like the Hendred Vineyard – at Hendred in the Vale of the White Horse. It is one of England’s oldest vineyards, producing wine here for over fifty years. Its Rosé and Sparkling wines have both won recent awards, but the Hendred Furlong – a still white wine – is our recommendation for a subtle, fruity white to enjoy with a bit of Sinodun Hill goats cheese.
Celebrate National Cheese Lovers Day, Oxford Style
So how should we mark National Cheese Lovers Day? Here are some suggestions from a couple of Cherry Picked cheese lovers who know the city well:
Visit the Covered Market – Oxford's historic market is a treasure in itself, and popping into the Oxford Cheese Company gives you the chance to discover something new. The staff's expertise means you'll leave with exactly the right cheese for your taste.
Create a local cheese board – Showcase Oxfordshire's finest: Oxford Blue, a soft goats' cheese from Norton and Yarrow, perhaps something from the Nettlebed Creamery. Add some Oxford Sauce and Provender chutney, crackers, and you've got a proper celebration of local produce.
Support independent shops – They are keepers of tradition and champions of quality, and they need your local custom. The Jericho Cheese Company and Oxford Cheese Company connect us to small farms and artisan producers across Britain and beyond.
Share your discoveries – Cheese makes a thoughtful gift. A carefully chosen selection shows you've put genuine care into it, and supporting local businesses while you're at it makes it even better.
The Oxford Difference
Living in Oxford means being part of a community that values quality, heritage, and innovation. Our cheese scene perfectly encapsulates this – Baron Pouget creating Oxford Blue in the 1990s, artisan producers crafting award-winning cheeses in the local countryside, and independent shops and delis here in the heart of the city and scattered throughout the county.
We're fortunate to have the best of both worlds: a vibrant city centre with historic markets and specialist shops, and the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside where skilled cheesemakers still work their craft. It's these connections – between city and country, tradition and innovation, local makers and local gourmands – that make Oxford such a special place to live.
So today, take a moment to appreciate the cheese in your life – as well as the city and county you live in. Whether you're discovering one of our local cheeses for the first time or returning to an old favourite, it's the perfect opportunity to celebrate what makes our corner of the world so special, which isn’t just the normal University-based heritage that tends to drive things here.
And you know what? If you can’t manage to do it today, why not let National Cheese Lovers Day be the nudge you need to celebrate it sometime soon, nevertheless. Because if we don’t support these local artisans and independent producers – and indeed our local independent shops and other businesses in general – we soon regret it once we’ve lost them.
Happy National Cheese Lovers Day, Oxford!
