The York Beer Shop has been nominated for an award in the Evening Press Eat Local competition. ANASTASIA WEINER reports...

BEER and cheese might not seem the most obvious culinary partnership, but York Beer Shop founders Jim Helsby and Eric Boyd have perfected the relationship.

Their shop in Sandringham Street not only offers a superior range of bottled beers from the country's breweries both large and micro, it offers hand-made cheeses from farms from the South West to Northumberland.

The shop has always offered the unusual combination following a suggestion from Mr Helsby's wife when it opened 20 years ago.

"Originally we were just going to concentrate on the beers," said Mr Helsby.

"But as my wife wanted an interest she suggested the cheeses and they've been part of the business ever since.

"It now accounts for 20 per cent of our sales."

The wine and beer combination seems to appeal to Evening Press reader Celia Maughan, from Dunnington, who nominated the shop for our Eat Local contest.

The competition is at the heart of the Evening Press Eat Local campaign and is backed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show.

If the York Beer Shop should be chosen as our overall winner, the owners will receive a special trophy at this year's show.

At the York Beer Shop, locally brewed beers are now on the shelves from the Malton brewery, Cropton brewery near Pickering, Black Sheep brewery in Masham, Hambleton Brewery in Thirsk, York Brewery, and Samuel Smith in Tadcaster.

The shop also stocks other UK and European beers, wine and cider.

Cheeses from Wensleydale Creameries, Swaledale Cheeses, Ribblesdale Cheeses and Susan Stark in Newton-le-Willows are available as well as Cheddars, Stiltons and other regional cheeses from all over the country, which are collected by Mr Helsby himself.

"We try to offer cheese and beer from as many local producers as possible," he said.

"And they're very well supported. People like the fact it's speciality produce. Collecting them in person also gives me the chance to see where and how they're produced as well as ensuring they are as fresh as possible."

Updated: 09:43 Friday, January 03, 2003