The World Cheese Awards 2025 have just wrapped, and it’s been an incredible year for Britain. Several UK cheeses ranked among the very best in the world — including two award-winning cheeses we regularly stock at Good Food: Sparkenhoe Red Leicester and Pavé Cobble.
Below, meet the British cheeses that made it into the Top 14 cheeses in the world (yes, really), plus tasting notes and perfect pairings to help you enjoy them at their best.
🧀 #11 in the World: Sparkenhoe Red Leicester
Sparkenhoe Red Leicester is the only raw-milk, farmhouse Red Leicester still made in Leicestershire. Once extinct for 50 years, it was revived by the Clarke family — and it’s now officially one of the best cheeses on the planet.
What it tastes like
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Firm texture with a slightly fudgy, chewy bite
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Mellow, earthy, savoury flavours
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A classic British cheese with serious depth
Perfect pairings
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Chutney: Incredible with traditional chutneys — especially the warm spices in Driver’s Christmas Chutney
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To drink: Full-bodied white wines or pale ales such as Deya’s Steady Rolling Man or Villages Rodeo
🧀 #12 in the World: Pavé Cobble
Made by Roger Longman in Somerset, Pavé Cobble is a raw sheep’s milk cheese inspired by French classics like Valencay — pyramid shape, ash coating and all — but with a flavour profile uniquely its own.
What it tastes like
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Dense, creamy, melt-in-the-mouth texture
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Clean, yoghurty centre
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Earthy, peppery rind for contrast
Perfect pairings
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Chutney or jam: Balanced beautifully by sweeter preserves like Single Variety Black Bursa Fig Jam or Brindisa Membrillo
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Wine: A crisp, bright Amie Sauvignon Blanc cuts perfectly through the creaminess
⭐ Other Award-Winning Cheeses at Good Food
Alongside these top-ranking winners, several other British cheeses earned Silver awards at the 2024 World Cheese Awards — and you’ll often find them on our counter:
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Eve
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Bix
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Montgomery’s Cheddar
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Rachel Reserva
If you want to try some of the world’s best cheeses, you don’t need a trip to Paris or Parma — you just need to pop into Good Food.