A well-appointed cheeseboard can be a mix-and-match platter suitable for anything from a stunning end to a formal dinner to a celebratory spread for unexpected guests. We've got everything you need for the perfect festive cheeseboard.
The wonderful Neal's Yard Dairy has been championing British and Irish cheese since 1979, working with independent cheesemakers who share their commitment to a slow, hands-on approach to cheesemaking. Select your own cheeses or go with one of their expertly-curated selections and relax in the knowledge that cheese just doesn't get any better than this.
RRP: from £56.35
Available from: Neal's Yard Dairy
One of London's only all-natural bakeries, Cutter & Squidge was created by two sisters with a passion for using fresh ingredients to create exciting flavours and fun designs. Their Christmas Cheese & Cracker Hamper pairs hand-baked crackers with a cheesy assortment of cheddars from Mouse House, including a festive Wensleydale & Cranberry.
RRP: £52.99
Available from: Cutter and Squidge
Opies Accompaniments
 Add a gourmet touch with Opies Pickled Walnuts which are typically eaten with Stilton, but work exceptionally well with all types of cheese. In fact, chef restaurateur Mark Hix believes 'Pickled walnuts are a great accompaniment to cheese and are not used enough in my opinion'.
Sweet, tangy Opies Mini Silverskin Onions and crunchy, hand-pickled Opies Cornichons & Onions pickled with mustard seeds are also a must; as well as delicious snacking partners, they offer a welcome bite, texture and are a tasty accompaniment. For even more variety, Opies Black Cherries with Kirsch are a surprising and tasty partner to a creamy goats cheese.
RRP: from £1.45
Available from: Opies
Cheesegeek Build-a-Board
The Cheesegeek collection centres around a Build-a-Board concept which allows customers to create a personalised cheeseboard packed with the very best award-winning produce for the foodies in their life - with an enticing 'more cheese, more savings' incentive. Customers can choose from the very best cheeses that UK and Europe have to offer - from Continental heavyweights to Britain’s best, and all with a focus on seasonality and quality.
If you want to add a twist and turn your cheeseboard into an after-dinner event, The Ultimate promises the perfect at-home tasting experience for its recipients. Each set contains eight cheeses and eight wines, from classic big reds and cheddars to more challenging blues and Sauternes; as always, they’ve gone for a British focus, supporting our incredible local cheesemakers. You will be guided through each pairing by World Cheese Awards judge and cheesegeek founder Edward Hancock; there is the option to add extra wine packs to suit a larger group.
RRP: Build-a-Board from £25.00; The Ultimate from £100.00
Available from: Cheesegeek
Island Bakery Cheese Biscuits
Sustainably crafted on the Isle of Mull, Island Bakery’s range of organic cheese biscuits are not just delicious but baked using local renewable energy sources, with food miles kept low, before being transported across the UK packaged in carbon balanced paper. Choose from:
Traditional Farmhouse Cheese – a richly indulgent cheesy hit made with mature cheddar from the neighbouring award winning dairy
Onion and Thyme – onion and aromatic thyme for a mellow yet morish tase
Harissa and Cumin – gently warm, earthy and fragrantly spiced
RRP: from £3.44
Available from: Island Bakery
Snowdonia Cheese Co. Hampers
There is a wide range of cheese, chutneys, hampers and gift bundles available at their online shop (like the Quintessential Cheese hamper pictured above), but we like the Christmas Cheese and Wine Wicker Hamper filled with red wine, cheeses, chutneys and artisanal delicacies for a one-stop shop cheeseboard plus a wicker hamper to keep.
This traditional hamper brings together a multitude of treats including four of Snowdonia’s most luxurious cheeses (Black Bomber, Rock Star, Red Storm and Truffle Trove) presented with a trio of traditionally made chutneys and Snowdonia Fig & Cranberry Crackers. There are also delights from some favourite guest producers, from Belid’Or Belgian Cocoa-Dusted Salted Caramel Truffles to a 75cl bottle of Montes Colchagua Carmenère, an intensely fruity Chilean red.
Looking for more hamper inspiration? Check out our suggestions for every budget.
RRP: £85.00
Available from: Snowdonia Cheese Co.
Judge Marble Cheese Board & Cutter
Slice and serve your cheese effortlessly with this marble cheeseboard and integral cheese wire cutter.
RRP: £21.00
Available from: Judge
The Original Black Garlic
Once aged, black garlic is totally different to white garlic and offers a much more mellow taste with surprising complexity and depth: a sweet/savoury umami flavour with tasting notes of molasses, tamarind, caramel, dates and much more. Elevate your festive cheeseboard with an attractive whole bulb or a jar of paste to top crackers.
RRP: from £1.75
Available from: The Original Black Garlic
Stellar Cheese Knives & Boards
Available as part of their home and premium kitchen gadgets range, add a professional and stylish touch to your cheeseboard with these beautiful red oak boards and polished stainless steel cheese knives.
RRP: from £11.20
Available from: Stellar
Be Truffle
Truffles are a sought-after ingredient amongst chefs and the foodie elite, but their cost is usually prohibitive for the average food budget. However, Be Truffle’s unique range is designed to appeal to a much wider audience, making it easy to add some truffle-tastic flavour to a wide range of dishes.
Designed to inject flavour, the range includes everything from truffle-infused mayonnaise, ketchup, BBQ sauce and mustard, to Truffle Teriyaki, Truffle Soy Sauce, Truffle Ponzu Sauce and the unique BeTruffle Sauce, alongside affordable traditional truffle products such as truffle honey, olive oil, butter and salt. The truffle honey and sweet truffle chilli are particularly good additions to your cheeseboard.
RRP: from £2.50
Available from: Be Truffle
Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Amanda David is a freelance food writer specialising in London’s restaurants, bars, exhibitions and events. She is the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.
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Instagram: @LondonGAT
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