The Frome Cheese Show

The Frome Cheese Show started in February of 1861, when a meeting was called by the local farmers and landowners to arrange a “Cheese Fair” to promote and sell their cheese and butter. It took the form of an open competition to all comers and was held on the 27th September, the last Wednesday, a tradition upheld until very recently. The Cheese Fair was a great success in spite of the heavy showers and took place in the old market yard area. It has been known locally as the “Cheese Show” ever since.

The large brick building in the Market Yard was erected in 1875 and was designed so that cheese truckles could be unloaded from farm wagons for the Show and afterwards the cheese could be easily loaded on to railway trucks to be transported away by the buyers. Several hundred tons of cheese would be sold at this autumn cheese fair and it is still one of the biggest exhibitions of cheese in the country.

Now the Cheese Pavilion is situated at West Woodlands Showground, the home of Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show. The Cheese Pavilion is still the heart of the show and is the home of over 500 entries in a 45m framed marquee. This has increased considerably in size because it is always the hive of activity where people can taste and buy the finest cheeses in the South West.

The Trade Day comprises of a morning of judging from the various supermarkets and the trade that spend hours contemplating the winners of over 60 classes, this is followed by a spectacular lunch sponsored by Dairy Crest where the Champion Cheese will be presented along with all the other prestigious awards. After lunch the trade are then able to visit the many trade stands within the cheese pavilion which is followed by afternoon tea.

If you would like to be part of this by sponsoring, exhibiting or having a trade stand then please contact the Show Office for more information.