Cheese Tasting Experience

Calling all cheese lovers!
Step into an unforgettable night where history, flavour and music come together beneath the ground.

Your journey begins with a welcome cheese and cider pairing to the sound of our live lounge singer, before venturing underground for a guided tour of Kents Cavern – home to our very own cave-aged cheddar, quietly maturing in the depths. In the Bear's Den, you'll take part in our celebrated blind cheese tasting in complete darkness, as featured on BBC Spotlight.

The evening continues in our Firestone café, where our team will present a decadent cheese platter showcasing the finest local varieties, complete with perfectly paired accompaniments, tasting tips, and a touch of friendly trivia. As you savour each bite, relax into the smooth sounds of our live lounge singer again, creating the perfect soundtrack to your cheese-filled celebration.

About the Experience
Looking for a cheese tasting event in Torquay that's anything but ordinary? At Kents Cavern, we've combined cave exploration with artisan cheese dining to create an unforgettable evening.

Perfect for date nights, foodies and groups of friends, this event celebrates the rich flavours of local Westcountry cheeses in one of the most atmospheric venues in the South West.

We hosted our first ever cheese dining experience in February 2025 to celebrate Valentine's Day, marking the launch of our very own Cave-Aged Cheddar. The event was a huge success - so much so that it featured on BBC Spotlight and sparked interest far and wide, especially for our unique blind cheese tasting experience in the darkness of the Bear's Den!

Lead by our fabulous in-house team, the dining aspect promises a relaxed and entertaining evening full of delicious cheeses, perfect pairings, top tasting tips and a fun quiz.

Your evening begins at 6pm (arrival recommended from 5:30/5:45pm) and the first hour is spent inside the cave on a guided tour with some cheese tasting as you go. After this, you'll be seated in our Firestone Cafe where the main cheese tasting platter will be served for you to sample some delicious local cheeses and accompaniments alongside listening to our lounge singer. The evening is expected to finish about 9pm

What's Included?
Welcome cheese tasting with perfectly paired Hunt's Cider sample

Guided tour of Kents Cavern with a stop at our Cave-Aged Cheddar

Sensory-filled blind cheese tasting in the Bear's Den, featuring our very own cheddar

Cheese tasting platter with accompaniments

Cheesecake dessert

Pairing tips, fun cheese facts and interactive quiz

Lounge singer

Why Kents Cavern?
Our cheese isn't just served here - it's matured deep within the caves. As one of Devon's most iconic historic landmarks, Kents Cavern provides an immersive setting, making this a cheese tasting experience like no other in the UK. We've even been featured on BBC Spotlight for our unique cave-aged cheddar and sensory blind tasting in complete darkness!

The unique, natural conditions of Kents Cavern (consistent temperature and humidity) are ideal for maturing cheddar through a process called 'cave-ageing'.

To be classed as 'cave-aged', wheels of cheddar must be kept underground for at least 6 weeks. Spending this time in the cave enhances the texture, taste, and aroma, creating a bold and robust flavour. The longer the cheese is kept in the cave, the more mature it will be.

This traditional technique is centuries old and continues to produce some of the finest cheeses in the world.

Every week, the Kents Cavern Cheese Team enter the cave to wipe the clothbound cheddar and flip it over. Once mature enough, a truckle is brought out of the cave, and the cloth and rind are removed before the cheddar is cut up and packaged ready to use in our restaurant and sold in the gift shop.

Demand is high for this artisan product and our team aim to keep our cheese in stock but it's not always possible. Our cheese tasting experiences guarantee you'll be able to give it a try!

What else do i need to know
The caves are a constant 15C so please dress comfortably and wear sensible footwear
We regret that wheelchair users are unable to navigate beyond the first chamber so would be unable to complete the cave tour aspect of this event
Tickets available online or at the Kents Cavern ticket office.
This event is an 18+ event. If you look under the age of 25 you will be asked to present photo ID
Additional drinks will be available to purchase from our cafe-bar

Dietary Requirements
If you have any special dietary requirements then please get in touch in advance. We regret that due to the nature of the event, we are unable to cater for Vegan or dairy-free diets.

Some of the cheeses on offer (including our own Cave-Aged Cheddar) are made with microbial rennet so aren't suitable for Vegetarians. We may be able to offer an alternative with sufficient notice.

We can provide gluten-free alternatives to crackers and bread served with your cheese. Please provide sufficient notice.