List of cheese-making course providers throughout the UK
If you want to learn how to make your own cheese, the best place to start may be a cheese-making course, of which there are many throughout the UK.
Much of the courses and cheesemaking training are provided by existing cheese dairies, enthusiasts and professional schools, and are tailored across the range from beginner to professional. But before you go ahead and book a cheese-making course, take a look at my blog and advice on I want to become a professional cheese maker… where do I start? It is definitely worth experimenting at home first – and you’ll get more from the courses and learn more in the long run (there is some good books to help up listed here >).
It is worth perusing several course providers – both local and those a little further away – to see the nature of the course, and who is doing the teaching (and whether you like their cheese!) and what you will learn. If you are thinking of making cheese – on a small or large basis, please get in touch – we’d love to chat to you and help as much as we can. We also run a cheese-making course within our bespoke cheese-making room here in Settle, North Yorkshire (details here >), this is designed for those who want to understand the technical science behind cheesemaking, as well as have a bit of fun making various cheese-types at the same time.
Here are some of the current cheese-making courses and schools in the UK at present (if you are aware of one that isn’t listed please let me know):
Basic / Introduction to Cheese-making Course Providers:
- The Courtyard Dairy, North Yorkshire. [click here for more details]
- Burt’s Cheese, Cheshire. https://burtscheese.co.uk/workshops/
- Cheese-making Workshop. West Sussex. http://www.thecheesemakingworkshop.co.uk
- Cream Of Galloway. https://www.creamogalloway.co.uk/events/cheese-making-course
- Fielding Cottage, Norfolk. https://www.fieldingcottage.co.uk/cheese/cheese-making-courses/
- Food Centre Wales. http://www.foodcentrewales.org.uk
- Food Technology Centre. Wales. http://www.foodtech-llangefni.co.uk
- Hartingtons. Midlands. http://www.hartingtons.com
- Hen’s Corner, London. https://www.hencorner.com/portfolio/intro-to-cheese/
- High Weald Dairy. Sussex. http://www.highwealddairy.co.uk
- Laceys Dairy, Yorkshire. https://laceyscheese.co.uk/
- Leith’s, London. https://leiths.com/classes/cheese-making-artisan-soft-cheese
- Organic Farm Shop, Circencester. http://www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk/courses/
- Red Devon. Somerset. http://www.reddevoncheesecompany.co.uk
- River Cottage. Devon. http://www.rivercottage.net
- Seasoned, Dorset. https://www.seasonedcourses.com/cheese-making-course
- School of Artisan Food, Nottinghamshire. http://www.schoolofartisanfood.org/
- WyteWtych, Peterborough. www.whytewytch.com
The courses run by existing cheese makers are great to get you trained on cheese-making, offering an introduction to making cheese, the chance to see an operating dairy, and some cheese-making recipes to take home. For a more specific and detailed cheese-making course, however, it may be worth attending one of the well-established courses run by industry experts: they will cover much more fine detail including milk composition, acidification profiles, choosing starter bacteria and ripening flora, etc – see below for these professional cheese-courses:
“Professional Cheese-making” Course Providers
- The School of Artisan Food (http://www.schoolofartisanfood.org/)
Based at Wellbeck in Nottinghamshire the School of Artisan Food offers a range of in-depth professional courses, from the fundamentals to specifics on particular cheese types. Run by visiting consultants and industry professionals, they go into thorough depth. - In France there is alos many other great courses such as: https://www.franceprocess.fr/
- (It is also worth mentioning the Academie Opus Caseus (www.academie-mons.com), not based in the UK, but with courses in France and the US it offers a real in-depth view at some of the key areas of cheese-making and ageing.)
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