The Wensleydale Creamery has marked the 25^th Anniversary of its popular Visitor Centre with the launch of a brand-new interactive Demonstration Room, the latest development in an ongoing investment programme which has seen over £5million invested across the whole cheese-making business in the last 5 years.

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Already attracting an impressive 350,000 visitors each year to its Visitor Centre, located in Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, the significant investment firmly positions Wensleydale Creamery as the UK’s leading flagship food and cheese experience, as well as contributing to food tourism in Yorkshire and enhancing the region's reputation for quality food production.

The Creamery has continually invested in its Visitor Experience since it first opened in 1994. The new Demonstration is the most recent addition, complete with a fully equipped kitchen and tasting area, with technology for streaming demonstration footage, film and audio clips. Visitors are taken on a journey in the art of the Dales rich cheese-making history, stretching from the 1100s through to the current day, with the installation of stunning infographics and displays.

The pinnacle of the development is the programme of interactive cheese and butter making demonstrations, delivered by the Creamery’s knowledgeable Cheese Experts. With a full programme of specialist cheese tasting, grading and pairing workshops, plus new live cookery demonstrations, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the world of the famous and much-loved creamy, crumbly cheese.

Never resting on its laurels, Wensleydale Creamery, which won Rural Tourist Attraction of the Year, at The Yorkshire Post's 2018 Rural Awards, is continuously focussed to develop its whole visitor experience, ensuring it surpasses expectations, being accessible for all.

Trish Cannon, Visitor Centre Director, Wensleydale Creamery, said:

“We have a fascinating story to tell and a unique proposition, and, by creating a truly enjoyable and memorable experience, our Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre has successfully gone above and beyond to draw visitors, becoming one of the most recognisable and beloved tourist destinations in the North of England. We are determined to keep developing our Visitor Experience to cement the Creamery’s position as the flagship cheese and food destination in the country.”

David Hartley, Managing Director, Wensleydale Creamery, said:

“We’re passionate and proud of our Yorkshire heritage and provenance and are delighted to be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of our popular Visitor Centre. The Wensleydale Creamery is a thriving business in the heart of our rural community.  This latest development of our new Demonstration Room follows a significant investment programme in the business over the last 5 years, which has seen over £5 million invested across both our Creamery cheese-making and whey processing operations, and Visitor Centre.”

The Wensleydale Creamery sources milk from 45 local farms, contributing more than £13 million to the local economy through milk payments, wages and purchases. With over 230 staff across two sites, the business exports to countries across the globe and has truly become an essential part of the Yorkshire Dales economy.