I found Scotland's best 5 cheese shops
If you’re in the market for fromage and crackers, we’ve got you
THE CHEESE LADY
Svetlana Kukharchuk is doubly cheesy, as she is the owner of a nine-year-old shop at 3 Court Street in Haddington, and a nearly-two-year-old branch at 2a Church Road, North Berwick. She sells Scottish classics, like Anster and Caboc, as well as ripe bries and blues including Blue Murder and Pevensey Blue, which is made with organic milk from cows grazing the Pevensey Levels in East Sussex. Her shops also offer other deli goodies, including The Chocolate Tree’s matcha white chocolate and Wild & Wonder’s Elder Berry liqueur.
This is the least ripe of all of our shops, as it’s a mere three months old. You’ll find it at 27 Broughton Street, where their head cheesemonger Mia Cowie is ready and willing to create the bespoke cheese board of your dreams. Join them for their first ever relaxed and chatty cheese and cocktails tasting event on November 11, from 6:30-8pm, £65pp. They’ve also just launched Christmas hampers, which range from £45 to £105, depending on how much you love the recipient.
CONNAGE HIGHLAND DAIRY
This family-run business, which is run by brothers Callum and Cameron and their wives Jill and Eileen, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. They use milk from their own herd of around 150 cows to make cheeses including traditional Dunlop, brie, crowdie and gouda that are stocked in various shops. If you visit them in Ardersier, you’ll find their groovy Connage Express vending machine, or the glorious Cheese Pantry, which is stuffed with stinky delights.
IJ MELLIS
You can’t really mention Scottish cheese shops without paying tribute to the OG, IJ Mellis. There are six of these shops across Glasgow, Edinburgh - including the Victoria Street original, which opened in 1993 - St Andrews, and, now, a newbie in London’s Crouch End. They sell every type of fromage, from Alp Blossom to Cashel Blue. If you’re getting betrothed, then invest in one of their multi-tiered cheese wedding cakes, and use their online tool to make it bespoke. Or, subscribe to their postal Cheese Club, from £47 a month.
ERRINGTON’S BARN
Follow your nose to Biggar, where you’ll find this destination - a cafe and food shop from the people behind some of Scotland’s best cheeses, like Corra Linn and Lanark Blue. The cafe menu includes farmhouse cheese tart, macaroni with an Errington cheese sauce, and croque monsieur that’s been toasted in duck fat. Then, take away some goodies from their extensive fromagerie counter.
Read more: “I tried the 'world's best' chocolate from a Scottish chocolatier celebrating his 20th anniversary”
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