Chapel Allerton Indies : George & Joseph Cheesemongers

Here’s a little interview we did with Stephen from George & Joseph to find out a little bit about him and his business…

Tell me a little bit about yourself & your business, including team members

We’re George & Joseph Cheesemongers, a multi-award winning independent cheese shop in the heart of Chapel Allerton. We specialise in proper artisan cheese, with a big focus on British and Irish makers, alongside a carefully chosen selection of crackers, chutneys, wines and all the lovely bits that make a cheeseboard sing.

We opened our first shop in Chapel Allerton in 2013, then moved round the corner to our current home on Harrogate Road in 2017. Since then we’ve cut, wrapped, tasted, posted, delivered and chatted our way through more cheese than is probably sensible.

Our team is made up of enthusiastic cheesemongers who genuinely love helping people find cheeses they’ll enjoy — whether that’s a safe bet for a Friday night, something show-stopping for a dinner party, or a full cheese tower for a wedding.

How did you get into doing what you’re doing?

It started, as many good things do, with a love of cheese and a slightly reckless idea.

Before G&J, I’d spent years in a very different career, but cheese kept calling. I first got properly hooked through Homage2Fromage, the cheese tasting club in Leeds, and then started selling cheese at local markets and events. One of our first outings was at the CARA Easter Eggstravaganza in a Co-op car park in Chapel Allerton — very glamorous, obviously.

After a stint at farmers’ markets and Leeds Kirkgate Market, we opened the first George & Joseph shop on Regent Street in 2013. At first, the shop was open four days a week while I juggled freelance IT work on the side. By 2017, we’d moved to our bigger shop on Harrogate Road and gone full-time into cheese. No regrets — apart from maybe the occasional Christmas cheese queue-induced panic.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

There’s no such thing as a completely normal day in a cheese shop, which is part of the fun.

A typical day might involve receiving cheeses from makers, checking ripeness, cutting and wrapping cheese for the counter, helping customers choose something delicious, making up online orders, planning events, putting together wedding cheese cakes, chatting about pairings, and answering excellent questions like “what cheese should I serve with this wine?” or “how much cheese is too much cheese?” — to which the answer is usually “steady on, but probably more than you think.”

We also spend a lot of time caring for the cheese. Cheese is alive, so it needs looking after properly — turning, wrapping, checking and tasting. It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.

Biggest achievement to date?

Still being here after more than a decade feels like a pretty big achievement. We’ve had power cuts, floods, pandemics and everything else thrown at us, but we’re still proudly serving Chapel Allerton with brilliant cheese.

We’ve also been lucky enough to pick up some lovely awards along the way, including Best Cheese Retailer in 2018, Best Retailer at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards (twice), and People’s Choice at the Affineur of the Year competition.

But honestly, the biggest achievement is probably the community we’ve built. Seeing regular customers come back year after year, helping people discover new cheeses, hosting tastings, collaborating with other local businesses, and being part of Chapel Allerton’s independent high street — that’s the stuff that really matters.

Favourite product you sell / make / deliver

That’s a bit like asking us to choose a favourite child — dangerous territory.

We’re especially proud of our cheese wedding cakes, because they’re such a joyful thing to create. We’ve made everything from tiny towers for intimate gatherings to huge displays for weddings with more than 250 guests. Sitting down with couples, feeding them cheese, and helping them build something that’ll wow their guests is a pretty lovely part of the job.

On the counter, our favourites change all the time depending on what’s tasting great. We’ve always got a soft spot for proper artisan cheddar, beautiful blues, seasonal specials and cheeses with a good story behind them.

Best & worst thing about running your own business?

The best thing is the freedom to build something that feels genuinely ours — a shop with personality, purpose and a proper place in the community. We get to choose the cheeses, tell the stories, work with brilliant makers, and create experiences for customers that go beyond just buying a bit of food.

The worst thing? You’re never really switched off. There’s always something to think about — stock, staffing, events, Christmas, deliveries, fridges, tills, invoices, social media, and whether we’ve ordered enough Baron Bigod. Running an indie business is brilliant, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Favourite time of year in the business?

Christmas is absolute chaos, but it’s also magical. The shop is buzzing, the cheese counter is groaning, and everyone’s planning something delicious.

It’s hard work — very hard work — but there’s something special about helping people choose the cheeses that’ll sit at the centre of their Christmas table. We also love the run-up to Christmas with our cheese advent calendars, festive cheeseboards and customers popping in with their annual “right, what are we having this year?” faces on.

Is there another business in Chapel Allerton you’d like to run for a day?

There are so many brilliant indies in Chapel Allerton, it’s hard to pick one. I’d probably choose somewhere I could learn a new skill — maybe one of the cafés or bars, just to see Chapel Allerton life from the other side of the counter.

Though, knowing us, we’d end up sneaking cheese onto the menu by lunchtime.

Plans for 2026 / the future?

More cheese, more events, more collaborations and more reasons for people to fall in love with artisan cheese.

Our big mission is to inspire one million love affairs with cheese, so we want to keep finding new ways to make great cheese accessible, exciting and fun. That means more tastings, more online experiences, more brilliant British and Irish cheeses, and more support for the amazing makers doing things properly.

We also want to keep strengthening Chapel Allerton as a destination for independent shopping. There’s something really special about this area, and we’re proud to be part of it.

Why should people shop local and support their local indie businesses?

Because local businesses make places feel like places.

When you shop local, your money stays closer to home. You’re supporting real people, local jobs, independent suppliers, community events and high streets with character. You also get better advice, better stories and a more personal experience.

In our case, you’re not just buying cheese. You’re getting the knowledge of someone who has tasted it, cared for it, knows where it came from, and can tell you exactly what to do with it. Try getting that from a supermarket shelf.

Something funny / unusual / different about yourself that customers might not know

Cheese at breakfast was completely normal in my family when I was growing up. I didn’t realise this was unusual until I went to university and discovered that apparently not everyone starts the day with a bit of cheese.

Looking back, that probably explains quite a lot.

Where can we find you?

George & Joseph Cheesemongers
Chapel Allerton, Leeds
Harrogate Road

Opening hours: 09:00–17:00, Monday to Saturday

Website: georgeandjoseph.co.uk
Instagram: @georgeandjoseph
Facebook: George & Joseph Cheesemongers