I love visiting cheese shops any time of year, but there is something even more exciting about visiting at Christmas when the Stiltons are piled high and the fruit cakes are out.

The Fine Cheese Co has two branches, one in Bath and the other, newer shop, on Motcomb Street in Belgravia. The pale blue store is a magnet for street photography lovers, who gather outside to get a snap of the cute facade. I couldn’t resist joining the club when I visited, but only quickly as the temperature was below zero. Inside, this luxurious deli is a one-stop shop for fine farmhouse cheeses and a great place to find specialist small-batch cheeses. I was in heaven.

This cosy shop is an emporium of all things cheese… the Fine Cheese Co have also developed and produced a range of products to perfectly complement their cheeses, from jams to chutneys, biscuits to crisps and crackers.

The staff talked me through the cheese display which focusses mainly on English cheeses. I tasted two ages of comte, a younger nutty cheese and a more mature tangy comte. I was introduced to Stärnächäs, from Swiss affineur Walo von Mühlenen and cheesemaker Marcel Gabriel. This cheese won the prestigious Bradbury’s Trophy, at the International Cheese Awards 2016 in Nantwich and is sold exclusively in the UK at the Fine Cheese Co.

Eventually though, I chose to take home the Petit Poulle Cendré, a creamy and rich goat’s cheese. This was paired with rosemary crackers and fig jam, a lovely trio of gifts to delight any cheese lover. The Fine Cheese Co also sell a range of cheese sets which make a lovely present… ‘We are the Champions’ offers a selection of award-winning cheeses, while ‘The Real Deal’ is the ideal festive set of handmade farmhouse cheeses for enjoying at Christmas.

I was delighted to discover a small cafe at the back of Fine Cheese Co where local shoppers were gathering for hot drinks and tasty snacks. The kitchen prepare a range of breakfast and lunch dishes each day, using their selection of premium cheeses to make delicious sandwiches and hot recipes.

More information about Fine Cheese Co here.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Belgravia, more information here.