New identity for British & Irish Cheese Awards, with 2025 dates announced

Picture credit: Joe Breakwell / The Royal Bath & West Society.

The Royal Bath & West Society has revealed a new identity for the British Cheese Awards ahead of its return on Friday 21 March, with the competition set to be re-named the British & Irish Cheese Awards, in recognition of the growing number of entries coming in from the Republic of Ireland. Entries will open from Monday 6 January, with cheesemakers invited to submit their products for consideration at the UK and Ireland’s largest cheese awards scheme.

As part of the refresh, a new logo will now adorn the judging hall and winning cheeses. While retaining the brand’s distinctive look and feel, in order to reflect the heritage of this prestigious competition, the new logo gives the British & Irish Cheese Awards a more contemporary brand identity, as it continues to innovate and evolve.

The 29th edition of the competition will once again be hosted by the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, following its successful launch earlier this year. Celebrating local producers with a food market, kitchen stage, dedicated cheese area, kids zone and much more, the festival will run from Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 March.

For the first time, the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival will open exclusively to trade visitors on Friday 21 March, from midday until 3pm. Following the morning judging sessions, the trade afternoon will give cheesemakers and mongers the opportunity to showcase their products to buyers and the wider cheese community, with trade stands situated alongside the British & Irish Cheese Awards exhibits.

Julius Longman, chairman of the British & Irish Cheese Awards, commented:

“It’s been an exciting period of change and growth for the Awards over the past few years, but we’re all particularly pleased to be refreshing our identity for 2025, to give Irish entries the recognition they deserve. Entries from the Republic of Ireland have always been a central feature of the competition, and are consistently in contention for the top prizes, so this felt like an important step as we continue to plan for the future of the Awards. Having created a new home for the British & Irish Cheese Awards in 2024 with the first ever Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Somerset in March for our biggest and best edition yet.”

The British & Irish Cheese Awards 2025 will be open for entry from Monday 6 January until Monday 17 February. Judging will take place at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset on Friday 21 March, with the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival open to the public from Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 March.

For more information, visit www.britishcheeseawards.com.