The People's Cheese 2026: Four exceptional cheeses, one public vote
The Real Cheese Project brings together four outstanding cheesemakers for a nationwide celebration of British cheese, responsible farming and the people behind the craft.
Four exceptional cheeses, four passionate cheesemakers and one ultimate decision, made by the people who matter most: those who eat and love cheese.
On Saturday 17 October, The Real Cheese Project will stage the grand final of The People's Cheese 2026 at St Mary's Church in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, bringing together cheesemakers, cheese lovers and audiences across the United Kingdom for a live-streamed celebration of some of the most exciting new cheeses being produced today.
Hosted by comedian and cheese enthusiast Marcus Brigstocke, alongside cheesemaker and comedian Jane Quicke, the evening will showcase four outstanding cheeses, each representing the skill, commitment and individuality of the people who make them.
Unlike traditional cheese competitions, where the outcome is determined by panels of industry experts, The People's Cheese puts the decision directly into the hands of the public.
Established by The Real Cheese Project, the competition celebrates exceptional new cheeses from both emerging and established cheesemakers across the UK and Ireland. Its purpose goes beyond finding a winner. It aims to introduce remarkable cheeses to wider audiences, tell the stories of the farms and families behind them, and champion a food culture that values responsible farming, animal welfare and the natural environment.
FROM 20 CHEESES TO FOUR FINALISTS
The competition began earlier this year at London's Chiswick Cheese Market, where approximately 500 members of the public were invited to taste and judge more than 20 cheeses.
Their votes narrowed the field to four finalists, who will now compete for the title of The People's Cheese 2026.
Specially prepared tasting boxes have been distributed to cheese lovers across the UK, allowing viewers to taste the same four cheeses as the audience in Wendover and participate in the final vote during the live broadcast, beginning at 7pm on Saturday 17 October.
THE FOUR FINALISTS
JEMIMA WILDE FILLI — ALLAN LATTER, PENCW DAIRY, PEMBROKESHIRE
Made by Allan Latter at Pencw Dairy near Fishguard, Jemima Wilde Filli comes from a small organic dairy farm on the Pembrokeshire coast. The farm's Jersey herd produces the rich milk used in its cheesemaking, reflecting a close relationship between the animals, the land and the finished cheese.
LINDLEY — JAKE GOLDSTEIN, PRIMROSE CREAMERY, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
A soft, raw cow's milk cheese enriched with Jersey cream, Lindley is made by Jake Goldstein at Primrose Creamery on the Welbeck Estate. Named after Elizabeth Lindley, a former dairymaid at Welbeck, the cheese combines traditional methods with a fresh approach to British cheesemaking. Lindley recently received the prestigious Golden Fork for Outstanding Bursary Winner and Golden Fork for Best English product at the 2026 Great Taste Awards.
CARREG LAS — CARWYN ADAMS, CAWS CENARTH, CARMARTHENSHIRE
Carreg Las, meaning 'blue stone' in Welsh, is a creamy sheep's milk blue cheese made by Carwyn Adams of Caws Cenarth. Produced using milk from a single flock of sheep in Machynlleth, it reflects the continuing innovation of a family cheesemaking business that has been producing distinctive Welsh cheeses since 1987.
TUPPENCE — ROGER LONGMAN, WHITE LAKE CHEESE, SOMERSET
Tuppence is made by Roger Longman of White Lake Cheese at Bagborough Farm in Somerset. A third-generation farmer, Roger has built a reputation for imaginative cheesemaking, particularly with goat's and sheep's milk. Tuppence is a sheep's milk cheese inspired by the traditional French Crottin style, demonstrating the creativity and diversity of modern British cheesemaking.
MORE THAN A CHEESE COMPETITION
At the heart of The People's Cheese is a simple belief: exceptional cheese begins long before the cheesemaking process itself.
It begins with the land, the animals, the quality of the milk and the decisions made by farmers and cheesemakers every day.
The Real Cheese Project champions these connections, supporting producers who value quality, provenance, responsible farming and ethical food production. The competition also provides smaller cheesemakers with an important platform, helping exceptional products gain recognition in an increasingly competitive food industry.
James Grant, Founder of The Real Cheese Project, said: "Some of the most extraordinary cheeses being made today come from people whose stories rarely reach a wider audience. The Real Cheese Project and The People's Cheese are about changing that. It's about celebrating the cheesemakers, the animals, the farms and the landscapes behind these incredible cheeses.
"We want people to understand that great cheese doesn't begin on a supermarket shelf. It begins with the decisions made on the farm, the quality of the milk and the dedication of the people who make it.
"And what makes this competition so special is that the public gets to decide. You don't need to be an expert to recognise something extraordinary. You simply need to taste it."
LEARNING TO TASTE CHEESE
Education will play an important role in the final.
Charlie Turnbull, founding director of the Academy of Cheese, will introduce audiences to the Academy's structured approach to tasting cheese, explaining how to assess appearance, aroma, texture and flavour.
The Academy of Cheese is dedicated to developing cheese knowledge and professional standards, helping both industry professionals and the wider public gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of cheese.
The evening will combine guided tasting with films about the cheesemakers, live interviews and audience participation, giving each finalist an opportunity to share the story behind their cheese.
A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION
Professionally filmed and streamed live from St Mary's Church, the final will connect the audience in Wendover with cheese lovers tasting along in their homes across the country.
For The Real Cheese Project, the ambition is to build a stronger connection between the people who produce our food and those who consume it, while giving outstanding cheesemakers the recognition they deserve.
The winner of The People's Cheese 2026 will be announced live on Saturday 17 October, following the public vote.