Record number of Irish entries at British cheese awards in Somerset
More than 600 cheeses are this year competing to be crowned best in Britain and Ireland
Last updated 20th Mar 2026
More than 600 cheeses are this year competing to be crowned best in Britain and Ireland, with a record number of Irish entries on the award’s 30th anniversary.
Previously known as the British Cheese Awards, the title of the event was changed last year to better represent Ireland – a recurrent competing nation.
Since the Brexit referendum 10 years ago the island faced trade challenges linked to bureaucracy and heightened biosecurity rules with its closest neighbour and trading partner.
While their sale initially fell, the gradual re-establishment of ties and trade routes is facilitating a greater presence of Irish cheeses on the British market stage.
Sarah Furno, a cheesemaker from Tipperary and judge at this year’s event, said: “Because of the combination of factors – Britain leaving the European Union, leaving the trading bloc, and also a different currency – we thought we’d be better to look towards France than to England.
“Britain was our traditional trading partner, but Brexit caused us to diversify. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for a small business. It’s good to have many eggs in your basket.”
With 48 cheeses presented on Friday (20 March 2026), judging day, Ireland placed itself ahead of Wales and Scotland with 29 and 17 respective entries. English cheeses remain the most represented with 405, and 104 UK retailer entries.
Each cheese is judged individually at The Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, by a panel of two or three, making up a total of 60 experts from across the industry. They include cheesemakers, cheesemongers and cheese experts.
If a cheese is judged worthy of an award, it is given a bronze, silver or gold badge on round one, before all gold winners are judged again to identify the category winners.
Tracy Colley, founding director of the Academy of Cheese and a judge for 20 years, has seen the industry change and diversify, particularly compared with competing nations across the Channel.
She said: “The French especially and the Italians are very tied by their protected statuses. So they’ve got lots and lots of PDOs (protected designations of origins), PGIs (protected geographical indications), which is protected by how the cheese is made.
“In Britain and in Ireland, it’s a free-for-all so you don’t have to stick to that particular style. So when I say free-for-all, I mean in terms of creativity. They can be as creative as they want.
“So what we see with the British and the Irish cheeses is they will almost mix recipes and styles of maturation, styles of different cheeses.”
The categories include cheddar, blue, other territorial, soft white, added flavour, fresh, modern and new, with the 2026 Supreme Champion revealed at the British & Irish Cheese Awards dinner on Friday (20 March 2026) evening.