VISITORS to the “most important day of cheese Brighton has ever seen” have grilled organisers over the lack of cheese on offer.

While CheeseFest promised guests some of the cheesiest cheeses in the world at the event in Victoria Gardens, many people said they had to queue for over an hour just to be told that products had sold out.

Not all guests at the event on Saturday and Sunday were unhappy with the festival after paying between £4 and £6 to enter but many left feeling disappointed.

Kurt Wylde, 37, an office administrator from Brighton, said: “I went on Saturday and after all the hype it was just diabolical.

“We got there and there were only two stalls actually selling a selection of cheese.

“I queued for around 40 minutes and others queued for even longer.

“They ran out of cheese at about 2pm or 3pm and started putting up signs but they were still selling tickets and letting people in.

“It was the worst rip off in Brighton I have ever seen.

“I have tried to get a refund as I wasn’t there for long.”

CheeseFest has been widely criticised on social media and on the Hanover Community Notice Board by unsatisfied customers.

Renowned food critic Jay Rayner tweeted: “Want to see a food festival disaster in real time? Go look at #cheesefest Ouch and so on.”

After visiting the festival on Saturday, Brighton food blogger Aisling Brock wrote: “Their marketing video boasted cheese such as cheese wheels, mozzarella sticks, fondue, nachos, baked camembert, and quiche… none of which were available.

“They also said there would be entertainment. There was a DJ but nothing they played seemed particularly entertaining.

“It just seems bizarre that CheeseFest wouldn’t include more cheesemongers.”

Someone even created a Facebook group called Brighton CheeseFest Sucks to echo visitors’ criticism of the event.

Craft beer brewery and bar, BrewDog, in Grand Parade, Brighton, reacted to customers’ woes by teaming up with The Great British Charcuterie Company to offer discounted cheese boards to those with wristbands for the festival, promising no long queuing times.

Chris Allen, from Brighton, said: “I love cheese. So far I have only tried the mac and cheese here and it was really good.

“There could be a few more cheese stalls but I am all about the melted cheese so this suits me. I am very excited to be here.”

Organisers said the demand for the cheese on offer wasn’t anticipated but that queues were not as long on Sunday and traders were told to bring more stock.

A CheeseFest spokesman said: “The weekend has been a great success and people have enjoyed some amazing cheeses.

“We had some technical difficulties on Saturday but on Sunday everyone had an amazing time with no negative feedback.”