A new annual cheese festival will take place in Manchester this month, founded by Jonathan Pearcey AKA The Crafty Cheese Man and Track Brewing Co. Bringing together many of Britian and Ireland’s top artisan cheesemakers in a celebration of all things cheese, Cheese Fest will also raise funds for The Christie Charity, following Jonathan's own experience of treatment and care through the Trust after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Cheese Fest is free to enter and will be held at the brewery taproom from midday until 5pm. Visitors can expect stalls from award-winning cheesemakers, alongside cheese-centric food vendors and plenty of craft beer to wash it all down with, with plans already underway to make next year’s event even bigger.
Cheesemakers in attendance will include Primrose Creamery, Wakebridge Manor Creamery, Blue Sky Halloumi, Burt’s Cheese, Larkton Hall Cheese, Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Bourne’s Cheshire Cheese and Applebys Dairy, with pizza coming in from Slice Culture, toasties from Fred’s and fermented pairings from Holly Pickles.
While creating something special for cheese in the city of Manchester, Cheese Fest is the latest in a series of fundraising activities set up by Jonathan Pearcey for The Christie Charity, following his first hand experience of the organisation’s enhanced support for cancer patients and their families.
Having been diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in February 2024, an extremely rare form of cancer that can only be treated at two hospitals in the UK, Jonathan underwent a 12.5-hour operation at The Christie before having his diagnosis changed to incurable in June 2025. Spending 15 days in recovery at the hospital during this time, Jonathan has regularly paid tribute to the outstanding levels of care that he has received through The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and will once again be raising funds to support services that go above and beyond what standard NHS funding can offer.
Cheese Fest co-founder, Jonathan Pearcey, commented: “Cheese Fest was born out of a collaboration between two great businesses - The Crafty Cheese Man and Track Brewery - who want to support an amazing charity, The Christie. We also recognised that there is nothing special for cheese or to celebrate cheese in Manchester, which just had to change. Cheese Fest will be an annual event, and we’re committed to going bigger and more cheesy every year. The festival will be full of cheesemakers, cheesy food, great beer and loads of fun, so if you like cheese even just a little bit it's a must visit.”
Cheese Fest will take place at the Track Brewing Co Taproom from midday until 5pm on Sunday 22 November 2026, with free entry for all.
