A CHEESE maker has taken the biscuit for the best soft cheese at the Great British Cheese Awards.

Tunworth Cheese, created by Hampshire Cheeses based in Scratchface Lane, Herriard, has won the award for the second year running at the annual Great British Cheese Awards.

The awards celebrate the best of British cheese produced and distributed by independent cheesemakers and retailers.

This year saw a record number of entries and over 9,000 people voted for their favourite cheeses, producers and retailers – those who received the most votes were then shortlisted for an award.

The Great British Cheese awards was organised by Great British Chefs and Peter’s Yard.

Ollie Lloyd, chief executive officer and founder of Great British Chefs said: “We launched The Great British Cheese Awards last year with the objective of producing a catalogue of great artisan cheese and to also discover up-and-coming cheesemakers.

“The response we have received again this year was way above expectation and we are grateful to the remarkable support from producers, retailers and especially the general public.”

The winners were announced at a ceremony held on Wednesday, 11 October at The Gilbert Scott, a British restaurant and bar by Marcus Wareing’s team which is set within The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

The panel of judges who were tasting the cheese included Brian Turner, chef restaurateur and president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Jane Devonshire, MasterChef winner 2016, Regula Ysewijn, food writer, and Felicity Spector, TV news journalist and Great Taste Awards judge.

Co-founder of Peter’s Yard, Wendy Wilson-Bett said: “We are keen to further strengthen our association with passionate producers, retailers and ‘great cheese’.

“We feel this is a fantastic initiative to be involved with especially as there is such a positive involvement by the general public.

“We hope that these awards will also encourage more people to seek out and buy great British cheese like Tunworth.”

A full list of winners at the awards this year is available from www.greatbritishcheeseawards.com