Top 23 English Semi-soft Cheeses

Shropshire Blue is a British blue cheese produced in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and is best described as a cross between Cheshire and Stilton. Shropshire Blue ages from 10 to 12 weeks and develops a natural rind that hides a creamy and smooth texture of the carrot-colored body with blue veining throughout. The orange color comes from annatto. The aromas are strong and rich, while the flavors are intense, sharp, tangy, creamy, and full. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Pinot Noir or Riesling.Expand

Oxford Blue is an English blue cheese produced in Buckinghamshire. The cheese is made with cow's milk, and its texture is semi-soft and creamy. The flavors are spicy, salty, sharp, and tangy, while the aromas are strong. Oxford Blue was first produced at the Oxford Cheese Company in 1994 by Baron Robert Pouget and Steve Peace. It is recommended to serve this cheese with a glass of white wine on the side.Expand

Stilton cheese is produced exclusively in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. It is one of the few kinds of cheese that freeze well and is affectionately called 'The King of English cheeses'. The Stiltons have three varieties: White, Blue and Mature / Vintage Stilton. White Stilton, as its name suggests, is a white, cylindrical cheese made from full cream pasteurized cow's milk that forms its own crust. Its taste is acidic, fresh, and creamy with a texture that is open and crumbly, and the crust is moist and smooth. Sometimes there are fruity additions to White Stilton, like White Stilton with apricots, mango, or ginger, creating a unique dessert cheese. It has even been used as a flavoring for chocolate. Its brother, Blue Stilton is produced in the same way except that it's a semi-hard blue cheese, with a clean, strong flavor and a rich, creamy color with blue or green moldy veins on the interior, making it a great dessert cheese. The taste is less aggressive and less salty than other blue cheeses and the scent is characteristically strong and intense. The crust is not smooth like in White Stilton, but wrinkly and a bit rougher. When it's left to mature for a longer period of time, the flavor becomes mellow and the interior gets even more velvety and creamy yellow in color. Stilton should be served in slices, and never scooped because scooping it out exposes the cheese to the air, causing it to dry out. Traditionally, it is served with Port at Christmas, but it can also be paired with walnuts, crackers, biscuits, celery, figs, pears, and crusty bread, or used in blue cheese and roasted leek tart for a hearty dish. Just be careful, because once you develop a taste for true Stiltons, you will never again go back to the supermarket varieties.Expand

Cornish Blue is an English blue cheese produced in Cornwall. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's designated to be eaten young. The texture is dense, moist, sticky, and buttery. The aromas are mild and sweet, while the flavors are creamy, sweet, and mild. Due to its mild flavors, the cheese is very versatile and can be used in cooking. It's recommended to sevre it on crusty bread with chutney on the side or crumble it over buttery new potatoes. Pair it with a glass of port. Cornish Blue has been voted Supreme Champion at the 2010 World Cheese Awards.Expand

Waterloo is a soft to semi-soft British cheese originating from Riseley in Berkshire. It is made with unpasteurized cow's milk from Guernsey cows. Underneath its rind, the body is golden yellow in color, a result of natural carotene in the milk. Its texture is creamy and rich while remaining flaky and slightly firm in the center. The flavors are buttery, sweet, and salty, with a hint of earthiness, herbs, and grass.Expand

Brighton Blue is an English blue cheese hailing from Sussex. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. It has a natural edible rind, and underneath it there is a semi-soft, creamy, and slightly crumbly texture with blue-green veins running throughout the paste. The veins deepen as the cheese matures, and the flavors (which are usually mild and mellow with a salty finish) also intensify. Brighton Blue has won many awards, including a Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards 2017-2018.Expand

Wigmore is an English cheese made from sheep's milk. It is produced by Anne and Andy Wigmore of Village Maid Cheese at the village of Riseley in Berkshire. The cheese has a natural bloomy rind. The aroma is yeasty, the flavors mild, sweet, and fruity, while the texture is creamy and similar to that of Brie. Wigmore matures for at least 8 weeks before it's fully ripened, when it reveals hints of grass, hay, citrus, and caramel.Expand

Stichelton is an English blue cheese produced in Nottinghamshire by Joe Schneider. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and animal rennet, in the same manner as the traditional Blue Stilton. Due to the fact that Stilton is protected, the cheesemakers decided to name their cheese Stichelton, which is derived from the old English stichl, meaning a style, and tun, meaning village. This village-style cheese is semi-soft and creamy in texture, while the flavors are buttery, nutty, sweet and spicy, with rich aromas and notes of caramel and apples.Expand

Lancashire cheese is a smooth, semi-soft and firm pressed cylindrical cheese made from full fat cows' milk, with a clean, mellow flavor in young cheese and a sharp flavor in mature cheese. It has a creamy texture, and it's reccommended to eat it at room temperature for the best flavor. In a culinary sense, it can enhance an au gratin sauce and risottos, while the best accompaniment is smoked haddock. The cheese is sold when it's one month old, but it hits full maturity after six months.Expand

Blue Cheshire is an English blue cheese hailing from Cheshire. The cheese is made from cow's milk using traditional hand-crafted methods. The texture is creamy, dry, and crumbly underneath its natural rind, full of blue veins that run throughout the body. Blue Cheshire is aged for 60 days in order to develop its strong aroma and citrusy, lemony, and tangy flavor with a salty aftertaste.Expand

Lynher Dairies Cheese is a cheese producer known for manufacturing Cornish Yarg, a semi-hard cow's milk cheese wrapped in nettle leaves. The company also produces Kern, a hard cheese aged for 16 months and covered in a black wax coating. These cheeses are crafted using traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients.Expand

Village Maid Cheese, based in Riseley, England, was established by Anne Wigmore in 1986 after a decade of experience at the National Institute for Research in Dairying. The company is renowned for its artisanal cheeses, including the award-winning Wigmore, Waterloo, and Spenwood, which are all produced using traditional methods and milk from local farms committed to sustainability and animal welfare. The cheese production at Village Maid emphasizes minimal changes to traditional methods over the years, focusing on handmade processes and environmental sustainability. For instance, they innovated by replacing disposable cheese cloths with a more sustainable alternative to reduce waste. Their range of cheeses has received numerous accolades, reflecting their commitment to quality and craft. The company has grown significantly since its inception, moving to a larger facility in Riseley to accommodate increased production and introducing new products like Maida Vale. This growth continues, all while maintaining a strong connection to local suppliers and sustainable practices.Expand

Yorkshire Pecorino Cheese, based in Otley, is owned by Mario Olianas, an Italian-born cheesemaker who moved to Yorkshire from Sardinia. The company specializes in producing Pecorino cheese using traditional Sardinian methods combined with locally sourced sheep’s milk from Yorkshire. Their products have been awarded in various cheese competitions, emphasizing quality and artisanal techniques.Expand

Park Farm is a family-run farm and artisan dairy located in the village of Kelston, near the city of Bath in Somerset, with a history that spans more than a century. The Padfield family has been involved in farming for generations, while modern cheesemaking began in the 1990s with the revival of an old local recipe for Bath Cheese. All cheeses are made exclusively from the farm’s own cow’s milk, ensuring full control over quality and a direct link between pasture, animals, and final product. Park Farm focuses on small-batch, hands-on production, creating well-known cheeses such as Bath Soft Cheese, Bath Blue, and Wyfe of Bath, all shaped by natural maturation rather than industrial processes. Sustainability, animal welfare, and respect for traditional methods are central to their approach. The farm is also open to visitors, with a shop, café, and educational experiences that connect people directly with the cheesemaking process. Today, Park Farm represents a strong example of modern British farmhouse cheesemaking rooted in place, tradition, and authenticity.Expand

Curds & Croust is a cheese producer based in Cornwall, England. They specialize in crafting artisan cheeses using locally sourced milk. Among their offerings are soft cheeses including varieties such as brie and camembert, characterized by their rich flavors and creamy textures.Expand

​Organic Herd is a UK-based producer specializing in organic dairy products. Their offerings include:​ Organic Cheddars, Organic Velvety Cheese, Organic Butters and Organic Flavoured Butters: Butters infused with various flavors.​ Expand

Alsop & Walker is a cheese producer based in East Sussex, England. The company was founded by Arthur Alsop and Nick Walker in 2008. They produce a variety of artisan cheeses, including the award-winning Mayfield Swiss cheese and the Lord London, a soft, white mold cheese. Their products are made from cow's milk sourced from local farms.Expand

Bradburys Cheese, based in England, sources globally to provide a diverse selection of cheeses that range from traditional British varieties to international types. The company, established in 1884, operates from Buxton, Derbyshire. Bradburys Cheese offers cheese under its own brand as well as providing private label cheeses for other businesses.Expand