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Mayor of Winchester to host charitable cheese-tasting

A renowned Hampshire cheesemaker will join the Mayor of Winchester for the next event in the Mayoral Charities’ calendar.    

The Mayor, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, will host a cheese tasting and presentation evening featuring Mike Smales from Lyburn Cheese Farm in historic Abbey House on Wednesday 19 February from 7pm.

Mike will offer a unique opportunity to explore the heritage and craftsmanship behind some of Hampshire’s finest cheeses. Guests will enjoy a curated selection of award-winning cheeses and hear directly from Mike as he shares his expertise and stories from the farm.

Lyburn cheese mike grading
Mike grading cheeses at Lyburn 

Proceeds from the evening will benefit the 2024/5 Mayoral Charities: St John’s Winchester, Winchester Radio, Winchester Sea Cadets and Hampshire History Trust.

The Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith said: “I am very grateful to Mike for volunteering to host this talk, and bringing samples of his cheeses too. I am really looking forward to hearing more not only about the cheeses themselves, but also about Mike’s business efforts and adventures.

“Our last Mayoral Charities event in Abbey House was a sellout and a fantastic, entertaining evening – and I have no doubt that this will be just as enjoyable. It’s a wonderful opportunity to taste some delicious local produce and enjoy some great conversation too, all in aid of four great local causes.”  

Mike Smales, owner of Lyburn Cheese Farm, said: “I will have many stories to tell during this evening, including the story of the 25-year journey from making 5kg cheese a week to 2000kg a week, the first Winchester Farmers’ Market in 1999 and trade shows in San Francisco and Singapore. I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone on 19 February.”

Tickets are priced £20 and are available online.

Mayoral Charity events also coming up include the popular annual quiz featuring Eggheads’ Kevin Ashman (28 February) and a pie & mash evening featuring pies from local business Piecaramba (2 March).

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