The Courtyard Dairy Wins Prestigious Affineur of the Year Award in London
The Courtyard Dairy, a cheese shop located in Yorkshire, has been honored with the title of Affineur of the Year at the fifth iteration of the competition held on June 16, 2026, at Christ Church Spitalfields in London. This marks the first time the shop has taken home the top prize, which is sponsored by Murray’s Cheese in New York. The winning entry was an aged Quicke’s Cheddar, which was applauded by a panel of global affinage experts assembled by the Academy of Cheese.
The cheddar, which was entered in the Hard cheese category, originated from Quicke’s in Devon and was aged over ten months in Settle, North Yorkshire. Cheesemongers Simon Ferro and James Spence aimed to produce a cheddar-alpine hybrid that combines French finesse with British character. Their process involved washing the cheese in a brine and bacteria solution called 'morge' during its early maturation stages, followed by careful environmental management.
Head judge Patrick McGuigan described the cheese as a 'clear winner', noting its blend of traditional cheddar notes with flavors typically found in French and Swiss cheeses. The Courtyard Dairy stood out among 24 competitors, winning three of the five categories. Besides the Hard cheese category, Simon and James also excelled in the blue and soft categories with their Cropwell Bishop Stilton and Baron Bigod cheeses, respectively.
Simon Ferro expressed his gratitude, saying, "It’s humbling, we feel super privileged." The event showcased the high standards of affinage, with other notable winners including No2 Pound Street from Buckinghamshire, which topped the washed rind and crumbly categories.
The competition also featured a People's Choice award, which went to South West Cheese in Barnstaple for their uniquely flavored cheddar. Additionally, the Rising Star Award was given to Burt’s Cheese in Cheshire, whose Stilton impressed the judges. Burt’s Cheese founder Clare Burt will now attend a five-day affinage course in France.
The international recognition of the competition has grown, with judges from various countries, including France and Switzerland, participating. As part of their prize, The Courtyard Dairy will receive a fully funded professional development experience with Murray's Cheese caves team in New York City.
