Leicestershire is the undisputed heartland of British cheese. Three of the six licensed Stilton producers are based in and around Melton Mowbray, including Long Clawson Dairy, a farmer-owned co-operative making cheese since 1912 whose Blue Stilton was crowned Supreme Champion at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards in 2024. Tuxford and Tebbutt has been making cheese in Melton since 1780. And at Sparkenhoe Farm near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Co revived the authentic Red Leicester recipe in 2003, using raw milk from their own 150-strong herd of Holstein-Friesians.
The county's dairy heritage goes deeper still. Ferneley's produces luxury ice cream from their own herd on a family farm near Melton Mowbray that has been farmed since the 1930s, with their milk also supplying Long Clawson for Stilton production. Manor Farm in Thrussington makes fresh yoghurts on site. Manor Organic Farm near Oakham was named Food Producer of the Year at the Great Food Club Awards.
When your local dairy is under 10 miles away and the supermarket average for cheese is over 350 miles, the quality and provenance difference is unmistakable. Browse the dairy and egg producers below to find what's near you.
