The Town Mill Cheesemonger is, not surprisingly, situated in the Town Mill. It's an ancient watermill, dating from 1340, which was restored 10 years ago and is now fully working. It's now also home to various businesses, including two art galleries, a pottery, a tea and dining room, a microbrewery, and a rather fine cheesemonger.
It's only been open a short while, but has already won numerous awards, including Best New Cheese Retailer in the British Cheese Awards in 2009.
You know it's going to be a good shop, when the cheeses are not just grouped by country, but also by county. There's some great cheeses to be had from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.
They sell Blue Monday made by Blur bassist, turned cheese maker, Alex James. Apparently it's named after his favourite New Order song.
It's soft and creamy with a slight sweetness and hints of chocolate and spice.
If you like strong spicy cheese, there's Picos Blue Valdeon, which is hand wrapped in maple leaves in the mountains of Picos de Europa in Spain:
There's not just cheese in this small, but packed shop. They sell ice-cream and sobets from Mendip Moments in Wells, Somerset, juice and cordials from Luscombe in Devon and a good selection of biscuits for your cheese.
They also sell a small range of wines chosen to complement the cheeses, and also ruby, white and tawny port.
They also sell a small range of wines chosen to complement the cheeses, and also ruby, white and tawny port.
I've tended to stop putting spread on cheese biscuits, but if it's Mary Quicke's farmhouse butter I think I will:
For some reason I missed the Radcliffe and Maconie cheese, with a label by Robyn Hitchcock. According to the shop's website Mark Radcliffe said "It's about the most exciting thing that's ever happened to us."!
Mill Lane
Lyme Regis
Dorset
DT7 3PU
Tel: 01297 44 26 26
Web: www.townmillcheese.co.uk
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