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.
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).