The cheese shop in The Hampshire Deli only stocks British cheeses due to customer demand and owners are urging shoppers to support British farming and artisan cheese producers.
The Hampshire Deli, which includes a cheese shop and coffee shop, in Wolverton Park, south of Baughurst, is “passionate about British products” and champions all the wonderful cheese makers in the UK.
The ‘Cheese Shop’ boasts the “best selection of British cheeses in Hampshire,” with more than 65 varieties in stock.
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It features a core list of cheeses which are always on the counter due to popular demand and each week Barry Walker, owner of the business, searches for and procures new varieties in order to keep the stock fresh, with the mantra of the business being, ‘Local – Seasonal – British.’
Barry said: “We started this business during Covid and were selling all cheeses including those from Europe.
“Then we realised we produce over 1,200 different types of cheese in the UK and now second and third-generation producers, are making their own cheese styles here from their homelands of France, Spain, Italy and other European countries.
“We started to sell only cheeses made in the British Isles, and our customers appreciated this wanting to support British artisan cheese makers. In fact, whatever the style of continental cheese the customer wants we can find a similar product made here in the UK, and can get it, with a little bit of notice.”
A champion of British cheese, Barry added: “UK cheese makers are now making more varieties than the French, and in international circles British producers are regarded, as being the best in the world.
“We strive to introduce new varieties to our customers and for those that are lactose intolerant, the shop stocks a wonderful range of cheeses made from sheep, goat and buffalo milk, which are delicious in their own right.
“We offer our customers the chance to sample all of our cheeses with tastings available, which is rare in food retail and only can happen in independent cheese shops like ours.
“So, if you want something extra special for Christmas, and not just brie, cheddar and stilton, the Cheese Shop at the Hampshire Deli is definitely worth a visit.”
The Deli also makes their own award-winning pies, sausage rolls, quiches, and home-cooked hams, which then go on the menu in the Coffee Shop.
Hampshire Deli, Cheese Shop and Coffee Shop is at Wolverton Park, Ramsdell Road, Wolverton, RG26 5RU.
The shop is open on Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4pm and on Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
For more information see @HampshireDeli on Facebook, contact Justine Barry on justine@hampshiredeli.co.uk
