Price range: £11.25 through £14.25
A wonderfully creamy, mature Lancashire cheese made by the Shorrock family and wrapped in distinctive black wax. Rich, savoury and tangy with a beautifully soft texture at room temperature.
There are cheeses that sit quietly on the counter.
And then there’s the Lancashire Bomb.
Wrapped in shiny black wax and shaped like an old-fashioned bomb, it’s certainly not subtle. But underneath all that theatrical packaging is a seriously good Lancashire cheese, made by the Shorrock family in Goosnargh, near Preston.
The family has been making cheese since 1923, so although the Bomb itself is a relatively modern creation, there’s plenty of proper Lancashire cheesemaking history behind it.
The story of the Lancashire Bomb begins in the 1980s when Andrew Shorrock made a special cheese as a leaving present for a friend who was moving to America.
He covered it in black wax, gave it its distinctive Bomb shape and sent his friend off with a rather memorable taste of Lancashire.
It proved rather popular.
What started as a one-off gift gradually developed into the Lancashire Bomb we know today, and the Shorrocks have been making them ever since.
The cheesemaking history goes back much further. Andrew’s grandfather, John Gaskel Shorrock, was making Lancashire cheese in the early 20th century and won Supreme Champion at the Preston Open Cheese Competition in the 1930s.
So don’t let the novelty shape fool you.
There’s some serious cheesemaking underneath that black wax.
Lancashire Bomb is matured for around two years, developing plenty of flavour while retaining the wonderfully creamy texture that Lancashire cheese is known for.
The black wax protects the cheese and helps prevent it from drying out during maturation. Once you cut through it, you’ll find a pale, rich cheese that becomes wonderfully soft as it comes up to room temperature.
The Shorrocks also make smaller flavoured Bombs, including varieties with chilli, garlic, black pepper, whisky and red onion.
We generally stick to the original.
Sometimes cheese doesn’t need anything else added to it.
Lancashire Bomb is rich, creamy and full of flavour.
When it’s fridge-cold, the texture is quite firm, but let it warm up and you’ll see why I love it. The paste becomes beautifully soft and almost spreadable, while still keeping enough body to feel substantial.
The flavour is strong and savoury with that characteristic Lancashire tang, balanced by a lovely buttery creaminess and gentle sweetness.
And it lingers.
This isn’t a cheese that disappears politely after you’ve swallowed it. You’ll still be tasting it a little while later.
Which is exactly how I like it.
Jen’s note: We usually stock the original Lancashire Bomb, but the Shorrocks make flavoured mini Bombs too. If you’ve got a special occasion coming up and fancy one, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can get hold of. Although personally, I think the original is pretty difficult to improve upon.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, rennet
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.
