Rishi Sunak turned his hand to ice cream making during a visit to Lacey’s Cheese, where he helped create a new Yorkshire-inspired flavour.
The Richmond and Northallerton MP joined Simon Lacey at the family-run Reeth business to develop a new addition for its ice cream venture, The Udder One.
Founded by Simon and his wife Amanda, Lacey’s Cheese attracts visitors from across the region.
More recently, the business has expanded into ice cream production, with the venture run by their daughter Poppy using goats’ milk to create a range of flavours.
During the visit, Mr Sunak and Mr Lacey combined Wensleydale cheese and fruitcake—long considered a classic Yorkshire pairing—to create a new ice cream flavour inspired by local traditions.
The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the day-to-day running of the business, including how the newer ice cream offering complements the established cheesemaking operation and helps broaden its appeal.
Lacey’s Cheese also hosts popular cheesemaking and ice cream-making courses, giving visitors the chance to learn the craft first-hand.
Mr Sunak said: “It was great to work with Simon on something a bit different. Wensleydale cheese and fruitcake is a classic Yorkshire combination, so turning it into an ice cream is a brilliant way of celebrating local traditions in a new way.”
Mr Lacey added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Rishi into our family business where we’ve been making cheese and ice cream for many years in the Dales. It was a fun day and we created a new ice cream together – Wensleydale Cheese & Fruit Cake Ice Cream. A true Yorkshire classic.”
