Our Christmas orders are now closed. You can still buy our Cheese Subscriptions to start in January, as well as book our courses and tasting events. If you want to purchase vouchers you can do so until the 20th December but please note that it can take up to 48 hours for the vouchers to be emailed to you as we process these manually.
We have a full counter of cheese in our shop in Pangbourne so you can still come in and purchase items in store
Price range: £3.70 through £37.00
Heckfield isn’t one of those oozy soft cheeses or a blue with a big punch. It’s more refined and savoury, with plenty of flavour but still really approachable. Heckfield has wonderful savoury notes of Marmite with a buttery texture that literally melts in the mouth. It is naturally golden in colour due to the Guernsey milk used in its make.
Heckfield is a hard cheese made from Guernsey cows’ milk by Village Maid Cheese. They are based just down the road from us here in Berkshire. The cheese takes its name from Heckfield Park Farm, which is where the milk comes from and, I think, where it gets its special character.
Heckfield has quickly become a bit of a favourite among cheese lovers, thanks to its full flavour, lovely natural golden colour, and that creamy-but-firm texture. It’s definitely a cheese with plenty of oomph and a proper British feel.
The story of Heckfield is really the story of Village Maid Cheese, which Anne Wigmore started back in 1986. Anne had previously worked at the National Institute for Research in Dairying as a microbiologist, but she left to pursue her dream of producing her own cheeses. She wanted to make British cheeses that could stand up to the best in Europe. Her first big hit was Spenwood, which is now a bit of a classic and helped put British artisan cheese on the map.
Since then, Village Maid has been busy adding to their line-up, mixing traditional cheesemaking techniques with a bit of innovation. Cheeses like Wigmore and Waterloo have made a name for themselves, and now Heckfield is showing off what you can do with great local milk and a fair bit of skill.
The first thing you notice about Heckfield is its gorgeous golden colour, all thanks to the carotene in Guernsey milk. Its texture is often compared to hard butter: firm and slightly crumbly, yet rich and smooth in the mouth.
When you first try Heckfield, you get a bold, savoury hit that reminds me a bit of a really good mature cheddar. However, it’s definitely got its own, unique thing going on. There’s a deep, savoury richness, but also a buttery sweetness that creates a beautiful balance. The finish is clean and tangy, which really lifts the whole experience.
Jen’s note: Our friends from Village Maid always say that Heckfield is actually best straight from the fridge. That way, you get its firm, ‘hard butter’ texture and all the flavour, which is somewhat unusual for cheese, but it really works.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet, salt
Normal opening Monday – Saturday 9am – 4pm until:
Sunday 22nd 9am – 4pm
Monday 23rd 9am – 4pm
Christmas Eve 9am – 12pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Friday 27th Closed
Saturday 28th 9am – 4pm
Sunday 29th Closed
Monday 30th 9am – 2pm
Tuesday 31st 9am – 2pm
New Year’s Day Closed
Thursday 2nd January Closed
Friday 3rd 9am – 4pm then open as normal
After Christmas our courier delivery slots start from 8th January.
