Cheese and ale pairing night returns to The Approach this month

The cheese and ale pairing night at The Approach is back, and based on the chatter around the bar, the return is overdue. For anyone who has spent an arvo wondering what to do in Nottingham that does not involve the same old pub routine, this is worth blocking out an evening for. The format worked beautifully the first time around, and the bar team has been quietly refining it ever since.

The idea is simple: a guided tasting of British cheeses matched with regional ales, hosted in a room where the music is live and the big screens are showing whatever fixture is on. It sits somewhere between a masterclass and a big night out, which is exactly why it caught on. You do not need to know your Wensleydale from your Stilton to enjoy it, but you will by the end.

Australians who appreciate a proper pub tasting will recognise the format, even if the produce is different. Back home, a session might lean on Hunter Valley cheeses and a Coopers pale ale. The Approach swaps that for East Midlands dairy and locally brewed ale, which gives the evening a distinct sense of place. It is the kind of night that makes a weekend in Nottingham feel like more than just a stopover.

The bar team has spent the past few months rebuilding the menu, working with new dairies and breweries to keep the lineup fresh. The result is a tasting that feels familiar to anyone who came along last time, but with enough new producers to keep regulars on their toes. Tickets will be limited, as always, so the early move is the smart one.

What the evening looks like

Doors open around half past six, giving the kitchen time to seat everyone and the bar team a chance to pour the first round. The host, usually a brewer or cheesemaker who knows the produce inside out, kicks things off with a short intro that explains what is about to be served and why each pairing has been chosen. It is the kind of storytelling that turns a pint into something a bit more memorable.

The flight moves through five or six combinations, each one matching a different cheese style with a different ale. A crisp pale ale might sit alongside a young, tangy goat's cheese, while a darker stout is paired with something aged and nutty. The host circulates between pours, pointing out the flavour notes that are meant to stand out and answering the inevitable questions about the milk source.

The whole session runs for about two and a half hours, with time between pours to chat, grab food, or check the screens. If there is a match on, the volume is balanced so the host can still be heard. Once the pairings wrap, the live music kicks in, which is when the evening turns from a focused tasting into a proper night out.

The cheese lineup

The Approach sources most of its cheese from within an hour of Nottingham, with a few exceptions when the flavour profile demands it. For anyone used to King Island bries or Tasmanian smoked cheddars, the local British equivalents tend to be sharper and earthier, with a character that comes through clearly when paired with a decent ale. The mix usually includes a bloomy-rind option, a hard aged number, a blue, and a washed-rind cheese that tends to divide the room in the best possible way.

The producers behind the cheeses are a big part of the appeal. The host explains the milk source, the aging process, and the farm where each one was made, which adds a layer of context you do not get from a supermarket packet. New this time around are a couple of sheep's milk and water buffalo cheeses that are harder to find outside specialty shops, bringing a different texture and richness to the board.

If you have spent time wandering the farmers' markets in Brisbane or Paddy's Markets in Sydney, you will have a sense of the artisan dairy scene. The UK side of that world is producing some excellent work at the moment, and the cheese board at The Approach is a good way to get a quick education on what is happening just down the road.

The ales and the lineup

The East Midlands has a strong brewing heritage, and The Approach leans into it. The ales are sourced from within a reasonable radius, which keeps things local and gives the flight a clear sense of place. For an Australian who is used to cracking a XXXX Gold or a Little Creatures on a hot Sydney arvo, the British versions are maltier, more complex, and designed to be sipped slowly rather than skulled in a hurry.

The flight moves from lighter to darker, starting with a session ale and finishing with something closer to a porter or a mild. Each beer is chosen to bring out something specific in the cheese it is paired with, and the host will talk through the hop profile and the ABV as you go. There is usually a cider option as well for anyone who wants to join in without drinking beer.

The beer list changes from session to session, so even if you came to the last event, expect a few new names on the board. The bar team is good at mixing established local breweries with newer operations, which keeps the lineup interesting for regulars and gives first-timers a reason to come back for the next one.

Live sport, live music, and the atmosphere

The Approach is a sports bar first, so if there is a Test match, a Premier League fixture, or a Six Nations game on the night, the big screens will be showing it. The volume is dialled down just enough to let the host be heard during the pairings, but the energy in the room is unmistakable. It is a different vibe from a quiet tasting room, and most people prefer it that way.

For Australian visitors, the timing often lines up nicely with the cricket or rugby calendar. The Ashes or a Big Bash game might be on, and The Approach is one of the better venues in the city for catching it on a big screen. The bar staff know the schedule well and can point you to the right fixture. After the final whistle, the kitchen does a solid line in post-game recovery meals that hit the spot without weighing you down.

Once the pairings finish, the live music starts. Weekend entertainment at The Approach usually involves a band or a DJ, and the transition from tasting to a proper night out happens naturally. It is the part of the format that tends to turn a curious first-timer into a regular.

Booking and the details

Sessions are capped at a set number of guests, which is what allows the host to move around the room and make sure everyone gets a fair pour and a proper slice of each cheese. Once tickets go live, the Saturday evenings tend to move fastest, especially when there is a good fixture on the schedule.

Booking runs through the website. The Approach has a dedicated how to book page that covers the different session times and any dietary requirements you might need to flag. If you are flying in from Perth or coordinating a group from out of town, it is worth sorting it out a week or two ahead to avoid missing out.

The team also offers add-ons like food platters and reserved seating near the screens for the post-pairing entertainment. The homepage has the full rundown of upcoming events and the kitchen schedule, so the only real decision is which session to pick and who you are bringing with you.

The return of the cheese and ale pairing night is a small but welcome sign that the calendar is moving in the right direction. After a long winter, an evening built around good cheese, good beer, live music, and a bit of sport on the screens is exactly what the East Midlands has been waiting for. For anyone who missed the first run, or has been wondering what the fuss is about, the next chance is just around the corner.

Tickets for the upcoming sessions will be released soon. The usual advice stands: book early if you have a specific date in mind, particularly if you want to pair the tasting with a particular fixture. The team is matching the schedule to the most interesting matches of the month, so it is worth keeping an eye on the fixture list as the dates approach.

For dates, times, and any new additions to the cheese or ale lineup, The Approach website is the best place to check. From there you can lock in a spot, see what else is coming up at the venue, and get a feel for the food and drink offering beyond the pairing nights. Whether you are a local or an Australian traveller passing through the East Midlands, it is the kind of evening that tends to stay with you.