The place

Cheese at Leadenhall is the first of its type in the concept of combining a cheese shop and wine bar. In the heart of the City, it’s perfectly placed to be a retreat from the relentless office toil.

One of Bishopsgate’s best kept secrets, this café and wine bar exudes charm and understated sophistication. To secure a spot at the wine bar, call the friendly barman Harry. You could even impress your companion by ordering a bottle of wine and some nibbles in advance.

The people

Owner and manager - Sue Cloke

For several years, Sue ran Harvey Nichols’ cheese department, and previously Paxton and Whitfield, London’s most famous cheese shop in Jermyn Street. Sue is an expert on European cheeses, especially of the artisan, unpasturised variety. She can explain the taste and origin of cheeses with minimal fuss, bags of professionalism, and lots of fun.

Sue is always happy to answer all queries cheese-related, and is a bit of an expert when it comes to sourcing all manner of foodie goods.

Favourite cheese: Comte “…for its nuttiness and complexity”
Favourite wine: White burgundy

Find out more about Sue’s love - and knowledge - of cheese on LBC radio. Download “Cheese and Wine Anyone?” from here: http://lbc.audioagain.com/  Look at the Bill Buckley - Food & Drink Show on 2 August 2009.

Chef - Matthew Bradshaw

As a young apprentice chef in London, Matthew trained at Quaglino’s with Martin Webb and John Torode. Still keen to learn his trade, he was enticed by the exotic flavours and innovative cooking techniques of the southern hemisphere. He particularly enjoyed the atmosphere and culinary diversity of Melbourne, and spent some time as one of the chefs at Langton’s, a restaurant and fine wine auction house, where he polished his skills and embraced new methods of cooking. On arriving back in London he was employed as a private chef, creating diverse menus. He brings all of this experience to Cheese, where his aim is to introduce some creative and seasonal dishes to the City along side exceptional cheese-inspired dishes. We hope you come down to sample his food soon. His handcrafted cheese straws are already becoming the talk of Leadenhall Market.

Favourite cheese: Matthew is a fan of triple cream cheeses, especially Gratte Paille
Favourite wine: Rioja Reserva, for “its mature, warming flavours and its velvety texture”

Bar manager - Harry Crabb

Harry has served food and drink in three continents for more than 20 years. He has worked the full gamut – from chucking out drunken punters in a flea-pit in Hong Kong to serving champagne to botoxed-babes in LA.

His favourite wines? Reds are definitely Pinotage from South Africa. For the whites, he adores New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. His best ever cheese is Gratte-Paille. Harry’s dream dinner party would have Arsene Wenger as Guest of Honour, with Goldie Hawn and Jeremy Clarkson and his beautiful wife cooking the food. Harry, of course, would sort out the cheese and wine.

Assistant manager - Francesca Arti

Francesca became involved in the food industry in the early nineties when she ran a franchise of delis. She then went on to manage the cheese counter in Harvey Nichols, working with her colleague Sue Cloke. She has been working at Cheese since day one, and has assisted in building the business.

Favourite cheese: Quickes Mature cheddar… “as you can eat it at anytime, and use in any dish” and Roquefort… “for the strong, salty tang”
Favourite wine: Malbec… “full-bodied, smooth easy-drinking”

Cafe, bar and communications - Lou Beegan

Lou combines her love of food and wine with a passion for entertaining.  Having left university with no career in mind, she moved to London and became a technical writer.  During her spare time, she began hosting ever more extravagant dinner parties and bringing the great Scottish tradition of Burns Supper to an urban setting.  She also volunteers for The Food Chain, where she has learned how to cook many styles of food under lots of pressure. Lou gave up the day job and became a caterer. Seeking to specialise, she found Cheese and is now perfecting her cheese and wine matching, as well as working on the communications side of the business.

Favourite cheese: Mature Winchester  … “a perfect cross between a Cheddar and a Mature Gouda, this really hits the spot”
Favourite wine: Petit Verdot, Argentina  …“maligned grape transformed into magical wine ”

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