Cheese masterclasses with gourmand Shane Holland

Cheese: a word to make the heart quicken and the stomach rumble. Our cheese masterclasses are hosted by one of the UK’s leading cheese writers and gourmands Shane Holland.

Shane will take you on a journey through the world of cheese, with tastings, plus light hearted and fascinating stories about cheese. Each masterclass will last approximately 40 minutes.

There will be three sessions each day at noon, 2pm and 3pm. We expect these sessions to be busy and numbers are limited so please do book in advance to avoid disappointment.

An extra ticket is required for the cheese masterclasses, priced at £12 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite along with tickets for the festival itself.

Here are the sessions that took place in 2025 – they will be updated for 2026:

Noon: British All Stars

Think the best cheeses are from overseas? Think again. Not only are there more unique cheeses in Britain than Italy or France, but we have some of the most awarded cheese makers in the world.

Come along and taste some of the world’s most highly regarded cheeses made by true artisans. Shane takes you on a taste journey of the finest British cheeses, and the stories which make them great. 

2pm: Seasonal Cheese

We all know fruit and vegetables have a season. Did you know cheeses all have seasons too? Taste cheeses at their absolute peak now, and get tips for what to eat throughout the year. Settle in after lunch, and enjoy.

3pm: How to put together the perfect cheese board

Shane has eaten more cheeseboards than most. Learn how to put together a perfect selection, how to shop for and store cheese, with ideas for leftovers.

YOUR HOST: Shane Holland is a professional cheese judge, a food festival devotee, and writes and speaks on cheese in a fun and entertaining way. Less a lecture and more like chatting with a knowledgeable friend (with lots of cheese!) Shane’s knowledge of food and drink is encyclopedic, with other roles including Chairing Slow Food in the UK, and the Chairman of Borough Market. Grab a ticket while you can – the sessions frequently sell out – and pick up stories and tips as you eat your way around his cheeseboard.