A spot that should be on every cheese-lovers radar is the historic Paxton & Whitfield. This cheesemonger has been around for a long old time, precisely for 281 years having been opened since 1742, and is a favourite among royals and even Winston Churchill. The origins of this historic cheesemonger began in 1742 with a cheese stall in Aldwych Market set up by Stephen Callum, and was first recorded as a partnership in 1797. The shop now ironically bears the name of the two partners that Sam Cullen (Stephen’s son) took on, Harry Paxton and Charles Whitfield.
The business’ reputation and popularity grew steadily and eventually earnt itself the honour of being appointed as the cheesemonger for Queen Victoria in 1850. This was the first of many Royal Warrants the company would go on to have, they currently hold a Royal Warrant from Charles III given in 1997 and from Queen Elizabeth II from 2001. Their cheese is literally fit for a royal.
After a dip in business from the 1860’s, business was once again booming after World War Two as Paxtons rekindled their relationships with traditional cheesemakers of rural Britain with two new branches opening in Stratford upon Avon and Bath. Today four of Paxtons cheese shops remain open; London Jermyn Street in St. James’, London Cale Street in Chelsea, Bath, and Canterbury. The Jermyn Street locations is the company’s oldest and best recognised outpost, orginally opening in 1896. The company is renowned in England for its amazing selection and quality of cheese, with Winston Churchill once remarking ‘a gentleman buys his hats at Locks, his shoes at Lobbs, his shirts at Harvie and Hudson, his suits at Huntsman, and his cheese at Paxton & Whitfield’. If Sir Winston Churchill approves, then so do we!
Their stores are true cheese nirvanas, with stacks upon stacks of heavenly cheese, every kind of cheese accompaniments you could think of like biscuits, chutneys, pickles, confits, fine wine, beer, port, artisan cured meats, and sweet treats, cheese cutting accessories, and cheeseboards. Paxton & Whitfield does cheese all the way. It’s the perfect place to get a special gift for any cheese-lovers in your life as they’ve got gift boxes and hampers for any and every occasion, they’ve even got wedding cheese cakes if you want a cheesetastic celebration.
Find Paxton & Whitfield’s London locations on 93 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6JE and 22 Cale Street, SW3 3QU.