Pick & Cheese at Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden is believed to be the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant, and many people are still unaware it even exists
Many people have a fondness for a little (or a lot) of cheese, and if that sounds like you, there’s one London eatery worth visiting. Pick & Cheese at Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden is thought to be the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant, providing a distinctive way to enjoy British artisan cheeses sushi-style.
Situated on the top floor of the KERB-run market, it boasts a 40-metre belt carrying revolving plates of cheese, each thoughtfully matched with a distinctive accompaniment, such as chutney, crackers, bread, pickles or cured meats. Despite launching back in September 2019, numerous people remain oblivious to the restaurant’s existence.
The establishment was influenced by traditional Japanese kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi bars, with founder Mathew Carver establishing it to make artisan British cheeses more approachable and less daunting for customers.
The belt is specially designed for the venue, featuring custom covers (domes) to maintain the cheese at the ideal temperature and quality while circulating.
The restaurant serves over 25 varieties of British and Irish cheeses, including Keens Cheddar with tomato chutney, Cropwell Bishop Stilton with kimchi, Cornish Yarg with pea and mint pesto and Truffled Baron Bigod with charcoal crackers.
Guests receive small plates of British cheese and select whatever appeals to them.
Each plate is colour-coded according to price, with costs typically ranging from £3–£8+ per plate.
The menu also features larger dishes and grilled cheese options available to order separately. “Off-Belt” hot options include Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Five Cheese Macaroni Blue Cheese Raclette and Fondue Smoked Sausage and La Latteria Mozzarella Sticks, renowned for their spectacular cheese pull.
Budget-conscious diners might consider visiting on a Wednesday, when the Bottomless Plates deal is offered at £29.50 per person. This allows guests to enjoy unlimited cheese and charcuterie plates from the belt for 75 minutes.
The venue can get packed, so advance booking is advisable. Portions are relatively modest, making it more of a sampling experience rather than a conventional meal.
I was so taken with the concept that I posted a clip on my TikTok page, where it rapidly went viral, amassing over 174,000 views.
One viewer commented: “These should be in every town,” while another joked: “OMG, I would be the size of a house.”
Alongside the Covent Garden site, there’s now also a Pick & Cheese restaurant at Camden Market, which took over from The Cheese Bar. The location was revamped in July 2025 and boasts an 18-metre-long conveyor belt.
Later this year, a Pick & Cheese is due to launch in New York, US. It will be located in Shaver Hall, the new food hall housed in the former Lord & Taylor flagship building at 424 Fifth Ave, Midtown Manhattan.
The New York-based Pick & Cheese has yet to open its doors to the public as of May 2026. Although early plans had targeted a February or March 2026 launch, the latest schedule points to a grand opening on June 1, 2026.
