Speed Dating and House of Lords at Great British Cheese Festival

23rd July 2010

The programme of masterclasses and demonstrations has just been announced for the Great British Cheese Festival at Cardiff Castle September 25/26, featuring the customary eclectic mix from Speed Dating to the world of politics, with visitors encouraged to book in advance (029 20 230 130 www.ticketlineuk.com and www.greatbritishcheesefestival.co.uk) to save £3.50 and avoid disappointment. 

The masterclasses and demonstrations are a popular feature of the show, now in its third year in the beautiful city centre castle, staged in four venues in the castle grounds and inspiring visitors with the diversity of British cheeses on offer, matching cheeses to various drinks, and learning how to become a cheese maker themselves.

The programme was put together by festival founder, award winning cheese maker and winner of the recent Guild of Food Writers Food Book of the Year 2010 Award for The World Cheese Book, Juliet Harbutt. Juliet said: “We always try to introduce new elements to the programme each year and keep it informative, entertaining and hopefully enlightening. We have some really fun events this autumn, and I would advise those thinking of coming to book in advance as this saves them money, and tickets are likely to be snapped up.”

Your M&S Hall of Champions offers the chance to taste 2010 British Cheese Awards winners, selected from some 900 entries the previous evening at the ceremony in Cardiff, and demystify wine in Grappling with the Grape.

This year’s festival welcomes for the first time the House of Commons where ice cream making is examined by the renowned Professor Holstein;  UK regional differences are explored in the North South Divide; A Welsh Assembly is put together by Ben Ticehurst, cheesemonger at Trethowan’s Dairy Shop in Bristol; and we are introduced to some Independent Candidates - the cheeses of small independent artisan producers, hosted by Catherine Mead from Lynher Dairies, famous worldwide for their Cornish Yarg and by Simon Jones from F W Read & Sons, makers of the Award winning Lincolnshire Poacher.

The House of Lords features Fermented Friends, where the coalition of handcrafted ciders and great artisan cheeses is explored; Scottish Nationals show their face this side of Hadrian’s Wall;
Steve Peace of Carmarthenshire Cheese explores the union of blue cheese with red and white wine; and there is Speed Dating where participants are invited by Juliet to discover for themselves the perfect partner to their favourite cheese; while Revolution Party takes us on a tour of the world’s favourite spirit, Vodka.

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said: “The master classes and demonstrations at the festival are always hugely popular and entertaining, and enhance everyone’s knowledge and enjoyment of a great event.”

The Great British Cheese Festival is the largest UK cheese show, with over 450 British and Irish cheeses along with fine foods and drinks from around the country. Recognised as one of Frommer’s 300 Unmissable Events and Festivals Around the World, it returns to this most scenic of venues with an expanded show at the same price, with an even greater choice of cheeses to try, taste and buy, and more of those delicious CAMRA selected beers in the Cardiff Arms to wash it down with. In addition to the fantastic cheeses available, there will be many other flavours to sample, including the champion pie makers Pieminister, and chutney and pickle producer Farmhouse Pantry, along with True Taste of Wales adding a real flavour of the host country. And to work off the calories there is plenty of cheesy fun and games, including Cheese Skittles and Cheese Tossing on the castle green.

On the Friday evening before the festival Juliet Harbutt will again be hosting the British Cheese Awards dinner where this year’s winners will be announced at the National Museum of Wales near the castle.         

Tickets are available on 029 20 230 130 and information and tickets on www.ticketlineuk.com and www.greatbritishcheesefestival.co.uk 

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