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Unveiling the big cheese
Last Wednesday, 11 th October, the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Jane Percy LL, officially 'split the cheese' at the formal opening of the new expanded and enhanced premises of Yorkshire's famous multiple award-winning cheese shop, The Courtyard Dairy, near Settle.
It was Lady Percy's second time in this position, having been the person who launched the original dairy in 2012, 5 years ago. The new bigger location can be found just 4 miles from the original site, in what was formerly the Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre, on the A65 between Settle and Austwick.
The new premises offers much more: a cheese shop; a café that specialises in cheese; a small cheese museum and display area; and a dedicated room in which cheese can be made and cheese-making courses are held.
At the official opening were a number of Michelin-starred chefs and cheese-makers, including Andrew Wildsmith of The Forest Side Restaurant, Grasmere; and Alistair Pearson, one of only two cheese-makers left in Yorkshire who still make cheese with unpasteurised milk.
Delicious food from the new café was on offer, including hot grilled Raclette (mmm) made with English cheese, and there were also competitions on the day, including 'Coco-cheese-shy' where guests competed to see who could knock whole cheeses off pedestals using catapulted Babybel cheeses! John Owen, the lucky winner of the competition, will be enjoying a free day's cheese-making course at The Courtyard Dairy soon!
A brief history of The Courtyard Dairy
Seven years ago Lady Percy presented Andy Swinscoe, co-owner of The Courtyard Dairy, with a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QEST) to allow him to investigate the art of 'affinage' (cheese maturing) in France. Working with renowned 'affineur' Hervé Mons, Andy developed his expertise before putting his expertise into practice with cheese specialists in London and Bath. Finding the time was right to start his own business, Andy and his wife, Kathy, set up the original The Courtyard Dairy in 2012.
Over the past five years, it has become one of the most well-known and respected businesses in the farmhouse cheese industry, winning many awards in a short space of time.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01729 823 291
Social Media
When
The dairy is open: 9.30 - 17.30
Sun: 10.30 - 16.30
Christmas Eve: 9.30 -15.30
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Where
The Courtyard Dairy
Crows Nest Barn,
(Former Falconry Centre),
Austwick, Nr. Settle, LA2 8AS
