James and Nicola Grant opened No 2 Pound Street in Wendover in 2010, and James, known locally as the county's cheese specialist, has since founded the Real Cheese Project to promote small-scale British producers further. The shop ages many of its own cheeses in-house rather than buying in ready-matured stock, and pairs them with wines chosen from small, niche producers instead of the larger names stocked by supermarket wine aisles. A handful of tables let customers eat in, with coffee, toasties and cheese and charcuterie platters served on a first-come, first-served basis rather than by reservation. The shop's win of Best New Retailer at the 2011 British Cheese Awards, within a year of opening, established its reputation early and the business has expanded since to include its own ageing workshop.
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