The Cheshire Cheese Company has finally made it to City Centre! I've been a fan of their cheeses…read morefor quite some time, but always had to make the trek to the Trafford Centre to get a taste, or order online. Now they've got a setup smack dab in the middle of the Arndale, and I couldn't be happier - though I'm certain my midsection is going to get puffy fast. I can never resist buying in bulk to get a bit of a discount, and usually go for the spicier varieties. My favourites are: El Gringo Chili Lime & Tequila; Caramelised Rioja & Onion Cheddar; Jamaican Jerk Spicy Gourmet Cheddar; and the classic Black Bob Extra Mature Cheddar. Those are just the standards for me, but there's always something new to keep you coming back for more. They come out with new flavours on a monthly basis, and with about 12-18 cheeses available to taste test, you're bound to find something you love. They've also got a large selection of wines and chutneys to pair with the cheeses you get. I've had some tastings of the chutneys and they're quite flavourful, but the cheese is what keeps bringing me back for more. If you see me walking out of here with 5 wheels of cheese, just try not to judge me...and help me find some crackers.

If there is a food group that I love more than chocolate then there can only be one contender. This…read moremay surprise you but my first love is actually cheese. More cheese Grommit and plenty of it. The Cheese Board is pretty much a celestial invention then. It stocks 200 types of speciality cheese, hampers and cheese wedding cakes; local, British and Continental cheese. I mean how good is that. Cheese tastic goodness and so much of it. You best get Daisy eating more cud, we're going to need the milk. Now I pride myself on knowing my fromage from the babybels but if you don't fear not. The people who work there all know their stuff and are really approachable. I wonder if there is such a position as a cheese guru and if so how can I apply. I left armed with the smelliest stilton ever. The more mould the better but only on my cheese not in general everyday life. It would also be rude not to try a nice slab of Wensleydale too. Remember to try keeping it local folks. I may stop mid sentence because this is me in my element. Cheese arama and total indulgence. What a winner.

This shop is well loved by many, but i'm not sure of it…read more When you first walk in, the place has character i give it that. But this is quickly demolished by the fact that the shop is very cramped to the point where i nearly fell over a basket. The staff ask you what you want straight away too, which i don't like, as i like to take my time and have a good look through everything and not feel harrassed. I love cheese, but i find it rather expensive to be honest for what you get as well - i got some sheeps milk wenslydale and it came to about £7 for my average sized hunk. It was nice, but for £7 i expect it to blow my socks off which it didn't. I've paid less for other, rarer cheeses at newer deli's in Harrogate - where i've been allowed to taste them first before buying as well - and been blown away by what i got. Its an ok shop, but i'm afraid that there are better contenders out there now to be honest.

The quality it's amazing also the service it's the best, they offer to pack the cheese in the best…read moreway to travel, also I bought porc pie and scones, definitely you should try, I am sure they are the best in town.

It's not cheap here but there's a great selection of cheese and friendly staff who will make…read moresuggestions and let you try if not sure. I got a truffle brie which is just as decadent as it sounds - although actually the truffle flavour was subtle rather than overpowering as one might fear (I personally would not fear that as I srsly love truffles). To round out my selection I got some stilton and some premier cru gruyere. When I say selection I obviously ate all the brie myself almost immediately and had the rest late. The colston bassett stilton was outstanding - a creamy stilton that is great for those who can find stilton a bit overpowering. We liked the gruyere although aren't major hard cheese fans so probably didn't fully appreciate it - I would recommend it though if you are. Finally I got some seasonal scotch eggs - featuring some kind of pigs in blankets element and they were outstanding. Slightly runny in the middle, fantastic flavour, I can't remember a better example. Despite the fact they were really busy pre-Christmas and its a tiny space, they had loads of staff so managed to give everyone a lot of time and it's as much an experience as a shopping trip.

This is somewhere where I've wanted to try for awhile. I…read morebooked a table just to be safe as it ended up being smaller than expected. We were greeted warmly and shown to our reserved table which consisted of a squishy sofa with a low coffee table. We did ask if we could be seated elsewhere as it seemed impractical to eat food there . Graciously we were taken to the back with high tables much better! The food is fantastic if you love cheese (as the place name suggests) meat, and nibbles. There were a few starters or for £15 each you could choose a platter with x2 cheeses of your choice. We ordered ours separately as my fella isn't a stinky cheese fan haha While we waited (which was a while) I was served a tasty zombie cocktail and himself a tasty flat white. The platter looked great when it eventually landed. Homemade pork pie, scotch egg, chicken, beef, Italian meats, various fruit, olives, crackers and bread .oh and the cheese. It was all beautifully presented and tasted excellent . The malbec served was also gorgeous. Overall it was a nice experience, cosy, lovely staff and food with quirky mouse artwork. Only thing I would suggest is the type of seating as another couple walked in and asked the same thing aka to be moved from a non squishy sofa to eat and the service a little slow but will be back for sure

I have a serious love affair with cheese and can eat tons of it so this was right up my street. The…read morecafe basically serves coffees and all sorts of cheese platter combinations. I popped in here to catch up with an old school friend and we only wanted a light snack, so I got the 'nibble' cheese platter which was around £6.95 if I remember correctly and comes with a coffee or tea. The big platters are around £12 so I didn't expect to get much cheese- I had a choice of three from the deli counter. Went for a French Brie, creamy blue Brie and this incredible horseradish cheese, which is really tasty if you like horseradish. They brought loads- for just over £6 it was an amazing deal and plenty for one person. The platter came with a stack of crackers, chutney, grapes- it was a steal! My friend Holly had the coffee and cake option. It was insanely good value for money! The decor is a bit simple and basic but the staff are fantastic and the cheese top notch. I believe they have a BYOB system so you can bring your own wine to have with the cheese!!

You can't go wrong with great cheese. Ask if you don't know staff are great…read more The guys here stock a wide variety of cheese, crackers, chutney and many other little bits and pieces. If there is something that takes your fancy or you just need a hand choosing your latest and greatest cheese board. It's not the biggest shop in the world but sometimes good things come in small packages. Prices are middle of the road to high but you get what you pay for. It's always nice to get some good cheese and this is a great place to fulfil that need.

A very wide selection of cheeses from which to choose, including a featured cheese of the week…read morewhich you can try. On my visit it was an Argyle Cheshire. The excellent selection of different chutneys and oils pushed this shop higher in my estimations and when I saw they had a handful of real ales on the bottom shelf I was in dreamland (and 4 stars became 5).

Wow, this place is amazing. All the cheese to sniff and purchase. Next door they also offer a…read morerestaurant called Rind. We also visited there, as it is all attached. They offer artisan cheese inspired pizzas and food. All an absolute delight. They have amazing views also of the Yorkshire dales. You must visit.

This is my favorite place in the whole world. You literally point at a cheese and they lets you try…read moreit. What more could I ask for.

Black Bob Extra Mature. Not for the faint of heart... or tastebud. Taste of the Raj that's like a…read morecurry in a cheese-block. Fiery Jamaican jerk cheese made with Reggae Reggae sauce. Sticky Toffee Heaven, a cheese that resembles a fudge. Cranberry, Orange & Cointreau Cheshire, one that definitely has apple and cinnamon, all right in time for Christmas. Every market I got to lately, I see these cheerful cheeses, and I'm never disappointed. These guys are the mad scientists of cheese. They'll put things you'd never expect in your fromage, and it tastes all the better for it. I've purchased Raj, Sticky Toffee and Black Bob, I've tried Jerk and all the Christmassy ones, and nothing disappoints. I bumped into these lot not only at the Manchester Christmas Markets but also during a recent trip to Buxton where they were holding a Winter Wonderland market, and our friend's post office shop near that. But if you can't find it at any stalls, just order it from their online shop! I'm sure some lucky person will love to find it in their Christmas hamper, or if not, just treat yo' self and gobble it all up. It'll be pricier than your average cheese simply because of its nature, and this isn't mass produced supermarket stuff. It's something you buy to spoil someone, and the folks at the stalls will always give you great suggestions regarding what to eat them with. This cheese will put a grin on your face, that's for sure. And their slogan reads along the same lines too!

A good range of "standard" UK and continental cheeses supplemented by a changing range of…read moreinteresting and unusual mixes like "chilli burner" and "apricot and Wensleydale". Many come from local suppliers. They claim to stock over 150 cheeses from all over the world, although I haven't tried to count them. Personal favourites include a heavenly camembert and the mature stilton. Prices are substantially below the eye-popping sums asked by the periodic French food markets held just outside on the Town Hall Square, so it's always worth visiting Kevin's stall first. The stall also sells butter, a good range of eggs, jams, pickles and preserves. Don't confuse it with The Cheese Shop on Northgate Street, the destination for small-scale specialist cheese sales. Shop here for your everyday produce. We have always been impressed by the quality of the produce, the good service and keen prices.

Manchester is one of the best market towns in the country. If it isn't the weekly farmer's markets…read moreor the Sunday carboot and flea markets, it's the specialist markets that take place around the calendar. Apart from the now very famous Christmas market, my next favourite annual event has to be the Fine Food Market, usually held between September and October every year in St Ann's Square. This is one event that no epicurean in their right mind would miss. Bringing together some of the biggest talents and producers in the North, expect to be fed by the best restaurants in town and offered some of the best home grown produce in the country. According to the government website, 'speciality meats, smoked foods (fish, cheese, meats and poultry) cheeses, chutneys, pickles, black puddings, ice cream, specialist ales and sloe gin' are just a very few items on sale here.

If you're a fan of hog roasts, paella, wood-fired pizza and vintage-style tea shops, head to the…read moreManchester Markets on St Anne's Square before it disappears again. A mooch around the market is the perfect way to liven up an otherwise dull day at the office (or living room, if you work from home, like me), so as soon as the clock strikes 1pm, get yourself there. You're going to spend, on average, about a fiver for takeaway food from one of the stalls but portions are good - especially at the Hog Roast stall, where they'll ram your baguette so full of pork and apple sauce you won't know where to start. As well as food, you'll find a number of stalls selling art and hand-crafted decor for the home, plus vintage furniture and clothing in the market's main indoor area; The Orangery, where you can also see/hear live music at certain times throughout the day (check the signage outside for more details). I'm really impressed with this little market. It's brought a much-needed injection of 'quaint' to the city centre. I wish it was here all the time!