A FOURTH generation family cheesemaking firm has partnered with restaurant chain Honest Burgers.

The partnership will see Lancashire company Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, based near Longridge, hand make cheeses for the company, which will then be used for its Blacksticks Blue Mega Slice burgers in restaurants throughout the UK.

Producing the cheese will be a big task for Butlers, but owner Matthew Hall, the fourth generation of his family to run the firm, says he is excited by the challenge.

He said: “What we’ve created is an amazing burger that has an intensity of flavour yet is still accessible to the masses due to Blacksticks’ uniquely mellow tang.

“We see time and time again that Blacksticks Blue hooks blue cheese fans in further and converts those who think they don’t like it.

“Honest’s commitment to British suppliers and quality, handmade produce is what we’re all about.

“All of our blue, hard and soft cheeses are handmade with love and care from our dairy using milk from our own herd.

“We love working with Honest because like Blacksticks Blue, they’re bold, brave and push the boundaries, not being afraid to move away from more standard foodservice choices like stilton, in the name of great flavour, I can’t wait for people to try it.”

As well as Honest restaurants, the cheese slices will also be available in shops such as Waitrose and SPAR, in branches across the UK.

The family firm says that it has already seen a surge in demand for the cheese and hopes the partnership with Honest Burgers will boost this further still.

Honest Burgers co-founder Tom Barton said “We’ve always had such a small menu, so every ingredient has to fight for its place.

“We recently took blue cheese off the menu because it came in such large packs the food waste was unacceptable.

“Then Butlers and Blacksticks Blue came to the rescue with a ready-cut slice in smaller packs that’s knockout in taste and has a great story.

“Plus the distinctive orange colour just looks awesome!”