How Neal’s Yard Dairy is Putting Territorials Front and Centre This Christmas
This year at Neal's Yard Dairy we have been celebrating British Territorial cheeses. Many of the British Style cheeses that we sell are the last of their kind. Once they would have been made to sustain the families and workers of farms across a region but industrial cheesemaking has made their production more rare. We're fortunate that there are still people making these cheeses that reflect our unique climate, agricultural and economic history. In fact, there are even new producers taking up the mantle and reviving near lost recipes. We want to support them and the best way to do so is by eating them! These are cheeses that lend themselves to simple, hearty, comfort-eating. It's one of the reasons we enjoy them so much. Just stripped back, delicious cheese.
This Christmas, we have a range of selections that you can buy to show your support to these cheeses, and the cheesemakers behind them.
Running Porter: The Perfect Winter Pairing
Neal’s Yard Dairy is celebrating the fresh, complex flavours of Britain’s territorial cheeses alongside Running Porter, a dark beer created in collaboration with The Kernel Brewery. Inspired by London’s historic porter tradition, this smooth, full-bodied ale is designed to be the perfect companion to cheeses like Cheshire, Caerphilly and Lancashire. Its gentle bitterness and roasted malt notes bring out the mellow, savoury complexity of aged territorials, ideal for sipping after a winter walk as the afternoon light fades.
The Territorial Jigsaw Puzzle
Our new 1,000-piece Territorial Jigsaw features a farmhouse scene celebrating Cheshire and Lancashire. Just as families gather to savour a cheeseboard, this puzzle encourages a slower pace, where curiosity is rewarded by hidden details hinting at the social fabric that gave rise to Britain’s regional cheeses. The puzzle is accompanied by a short guide highlighting subtle details within the featured scene to enhance its meaning and enjoyment. Whether you’re puzzling in the lull after a festive lunch or digging into a chunk of crumbly Cheshire on a cozy night, it’s a celebration of the history and time-honoured skills at the heart of Britain’s cheese heritage.
The Territorial Selection
Neal’s Yard Dairy’s Territorial Selection brings together generous cuts of some of our most beloved regional cheeses. Compare and contrast two new wave artisan Wensleydales and a succulent wedge of Cheshire, complemented by a piece of Stichelton for contrast. These cheeses epitomise Britain’s farmhouse cheese traditions: bold yet balanced, hearty yet refined. Designed to keep beautifully over the holidays, the selection offers something for every moment, from a Boxing Day ploughman’s to an evening by the fire with a glass of porter. It’s a celebration of place and flavour: the essential British cheeseboard.
Quince Bakery Biscuits for Lancashire Cheese
To celebrate the bright, buttery flavour of Kirkham’s Lancashire, Neal’s Yard Dairy has teamed up with Anna Higham of London’s Quince Bakery to create a bespoke biscuit selection. Anna has adapted three of her signature bakes to highlight Lancashire’s fresh acidity and creamy richness. The selection includes Quince Slice, a gingerbread biscuit infused with warm winter spices; a classic oaty biscuit for texture and crunch; and Goosnargh Cake, a shortbread laced with coriander inspired by a classic recipe from the Kirkhams’ village in Lancashire. These handmade biscuits bring a baker’s imagination to the Christmas cheeseboard, perfect for gifting, pairing, and celebrating the best of British craft.