Frustration has overcome villagers in Stilton after an unusual law upheld by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs prevents them from naming their cheese after their home town.

Stilton cheese can only keep its name in Leicester, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Picture: Alamy)

The Stilton Cheese Makers Association has been fighting against the 1996 Protected Designation of Origin order, which has prevented Stilton cheese from being officially named so, outside of Leicester, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Liam McGivern, the landlord of the Bell Inn pub, said he is upset by Defra’s decision to let him make the cheese but not give it the Stilton name.

‘Anyone can make the cheese but they won’t let us call it Stilton,’ Mr McGivern said.




‘We are going to challenge the [ruling] – that’s the whole reason for making the cheese.’

In the 18th century, the Bell Inn’s pub owner was said to be the first to market the cheese, and this is something that has further sparked disbelief in Mr McGivern.

‘It was ridiculous that up until now we couldn’t make Stilton in Stilton,’ he fumed.

‘People would come in and ask for it and I’d have to explain we legally couldn’t make it. It was embarrassing.’

Now, by law, the establishment must sell the cheese as ‘blue-veined cheese made in Stilton’. Mr McGivern markets the cheese as ‘Bell Blue’.