Belfast cheesemonger inundated with support after refrigeration failure ruins store full of specialist cheese

Mikes Fancy Cheese based on Donegall Street in the city centre shared news about the aftermath this morning, with the store posting an image to social media showing wheels of destroyed cheese across the room.

The cheesemonger specialises in Young Buck – a cheese made in Newtownards made from raw milk blue cheese aged for a minimum of 12 weeks from milk by Smyth McCann’s herd of 150 Holstein Friesian cows.

In an initial post on Facebook they wrote: “Lads come buy your YB [Young Buck] today because there might not be any for a couple of months!

“Got up today and mature room was like a sauna.

“Merry Xmas.”

In another post after an outpouring of support, they described the well-wishes as “something else”.

“The best way to support us is come buy cheese in Jan, Feb, March from us.

“We should have enough YB in the cold store shop to last us. We won’t be able to wholesale any YB until March at earliest

“We are very fortunate to have an outlet of the shop to keep cash flow healthy-ish. Buy a voucher. Invest in cheese now to eat later.

“Buy tickets to beer and cheese nights. Will be going round to @sunflowerpub to book more in! The next few months will be event heavy.

“Savour the bit of YB in yer fridge, we’ve lost so many great cheeses in Ireland and UK in recent years we are small business tying a lot of money up in stock.

“Finally if anyone works in insurance advice would be welcomed. Not holding much hope for equipment failure.

“See a load of you down at the shop later and tomorrow. No sympathy please just eat cheese and enjoy.”