It was trailed as a high-end highlight of Tottenham’s magnificent new stadium and, in many respects, came to be an emblem of the extravagance of the £1bn build. But, in a stomach-churning twist, the Guardian can reveal that the much talked about VIP cheese room will not be happening.

The stadium project has been beset by delays and difficulties, with the club’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, saying last Friday that his gut feeling was it would be tough to move in before the end of the season. It is the insides of the executive-level diners that are now of the utmost concern.

The prospect of the cheese room was mentioned in January 2017 at a stadium preview presentation by the club. It was reported at the time that clients would be able “to select their own specially sourced half-time cheeses” and the must-have match-day experience accoutrement has since become the modern-day version of the prawn sandwich.

The mockery from rival fans has not been slow to arrive, despite the fromagerie actually paling in the corporate luxury stakes when compared to some of the other trimmings that are planned. Has the ridicule prompted a U-turn? No, insist Spurs. They were never going to have the cheese room in the first place – a story that has more holes in it than a full-flavoured emmental.

Quick Guide Follow Guardian sport on social media Show Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Facebook: like our football and sport pages Instagram: our favourite photos, films and stories YouTube: subscribe to our football and sport channels Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images Europe

The Guardian has been unable to solve the mystery, despite an in-depth investigation that has taken it to the heart of London’s cheese society. The sharp aroma of this, with its fruity, sweaty nuance, will endure for some time.