Melton Mowbray Area Guide
Home of award winning pork pies and Stilton cheese, Melton Mowbray is a town in the North East of Leicestershire. Known as the ‘Rural Capital of Food’, this popular market town is famed for its local produce. A food lover’s paradise, Melton Mowbray has bustling food festivals and Artisan cheese fairs to enjoy.
Melton Mowbray’s pies and Stilton cheese are so famous that they have protected status so they can only be made locally. We’d recommend a visit to Dickinson & Morris’ Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe for a traditional experience! Dating back to 1851, this popular bakery has the most delicious pies, cheese, fresh bread and chutneys on offer. If you’re interested in how the pies are made, you can also book in for a pie-making demonstration.
If you want to have a go at making a pork pie yourself, you need to visit Brockleby’s. This award winning bakery allows you to make your pie to bake at home. They also offer an Ultimate Pie-Making Workshop which comes with a ploughman’s lunch or afternoon tea.
Melton Mowbray’s bustling calendar is often filled with food festivals. PieFest is held at the start of August where you can experience every type of pie. Hot or cold, sweet or savoury, meat or vegetarian – there will be a pie for you at PieFest. The festival also includes demonstrations, workshops and tastings. If you prefer cheese, you can’t miss the UK’s largest cheese fair which is held in May. With over 50 Artisan cheesemakers, you can expect around 300 cheeses on offer.
Whilst Melton Mowbray is most famous for its food, it also has a 1000 year history. Between the years of 1194 and 1487, 11 of England’s kings visited the market town! Follow the Heritage Trail throughout the town to discover its rich history or head to Melton Carnegie Museum which is housed in the former Carnegie Library.