The gentle handling of the delicate curds, the careful hand-rubbing of each stilton as it emerges from its cheese hoop in the traditional cylindrical shape, the laborious hand turning by hand of each cheese every day and the three months maturing period, after which each stilton is graded individually, gives the food-lover a gourmet product.

Colston Bassett blue stilton is made as stilton cheese has been since the beginning of the eighteenth century. It took its name from the village of Stilton on the Great North Road, where the landlord at the Bell Inn sold his sister-in-law's cheese to coach travellers. The cheese was never made in Stilton and even today, protected by certification trademark, it can only be made in three adjacent shires of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.

Stilton cheese can be bought from a small shop on the site.

Contact details

Address: Harby Lane, Colston Bassett, NG12 3FN.

Telephone: 01949 81322.

Fax: 01949 81132.