This year there are races and contests taking place all over the UK to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day. Here at Contrary Life we have come up with our favourite events taking place this year, plus the details of other events that will be going on in the name of fun. So prepare your frying pans and get ready to batter the competition…
Olney Pancake Race
Olney Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday in Olney Buckinghamshire
When: 4th March 2014, race starts at 11.55am
Where: Olney, Buckinghamshire
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The 65th annual Olney Pancake Race will feature local women dressed in traditional housewife costumes; armed with a frying pan and pancake. The race was first run in 1445 and is said to have originated from a harassed housewife, who having heard the shriving bell, dashed off to church still clutching her frying pan containing a pancake. In 1950 the race became an international event after a challenge was received from the town of Liberal in Kansas (USA). The two towns now compete annually and prizes are exchanged. The race in Olney is now run from the Market Place to a point midway down Church Lane; a distance of 415 yards. Warning bells are rung from the church steeple and the race is started by the Churchwarden using the large bronze ‘Pancake Bell’. Pancakes are tossed by the competitors at the start and the winner is required to toss her pancake again at the finish; she then receives a traditional kiss from the Verger.
More info: olneypancakerace.org
World Pancake Racing Championships
When: 4th March 2014, with registration at 12.15pm and races from 12.30pm to 1.15pm
Where: Princesshay Square, Bedford Street, Exeter, Devon
£: It costs £30 to register a team in the main championships and is free to watch
What is it?
Teams of up to four people will compete in heats to win a trophy and vouchers whilst raising money for the Dream-A-Way charity. There will be an additional Pancake Flipping Challenge for added fun on the day. Members of the public will be encouraged to get up on stage and see how many times they can toss a pancake in just one minute. The winner will receive some Princesshay vouchers. The event is organised by Wacky Nation who are also responsible for the quirky Rock Paper Scissors Championships and the World Christmas Cracker Throwing Championships.
More info: www.wackynation.com/pancake-race
Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race
Nina Hossain, ITV News newscaster, Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge and Juggling John launch the Parliamentary Pancake Race 2014.
When: March 4th 2014 at 10am
Where: Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, London
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The annual Parliamentary Pancake Race organised by Rehab is now in its 17th year and this year’s challenge takes place at 10am on Shrove Tuesday, in the shadows of the Houses of Parliament at Victoria Tower Gardens. It is among the noblest traditions of Parliament which each year sees MPs, Lords and the media line out against each other in a fight to the finish line for the honour and the glory of holding the much sought-after Magnificent Tin Cup.
Rehab Group in the UK is a non-profit group comprising a number of different organisations providing life-changing services to over 60,000 people in England, Wales and Scotland each year. These include care, rehabilitation, training, labour market and employment services to people living with brain injury, mental health issues and a wide range of disabilities.
More info: www.parliamentarypancakerace.co.uk
Werrington’s Historic Pancake Race
When: 4th March 2014 from 11am
Where: Washerwall Lane, Werrington, Staffordshire
£: Free
What is it?
After rediscovering the old St Philips Pancake Cup, first won in the 1960s, it was decided to revive the historic Werrington Pancake Race. The now annual event takes place on Shrove Tuesday and sees families race along Washerwall Lane, Werrington, just as the villagers of the past used to do. Local school children and mothers are encouraged to take part and carry on the village tradition.
More info: www.mycommunitystuff.com
Great Spitalfields Pancake Race
Fancy dress is essential for the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race
When: 4th March 2014 at 12.30pm
Where: Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London E1 6QL
£: Free
What is it?
The race will see teams of four race up and down Dray Walk to raise funds for London’s Air Ambulance. As well as prizes for the winners, there will be prizes for the best dressed and best behaved teams. The race usually attracts some pretty randomly dressed teams and you can expect to see plenty of street entertainment from the likes of clowns and string bands.
More info: www.alternativearts.co.uk/events
Scarborough Pancake Olympics
When: 4th March 2014
Where: Town Centre, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
£: Free
What is it?
Join in the fun at Scarborough’s Pancake Olympics, with pancake races, and the traditional ringing of the Pancake Bell at the junction of Newborough and North Street. The custom of ringing a bell began over a century ago and was originally used as a curfew signal at 6am and 6pm. It was also rung on Shrove Tuesday at noon to signal housewives to start frying the traditional pancakes. This year the Pancake Bell will be rung by the Mayor at noon.
More info: www.visitscarborough.com
The Poulter’s Pancake Race
When: 4th March 2014
Where: Guildhall Yard, Guildhall, Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HH
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The Livery Companies of the City of London are various historic trade associations and they were originally responsible for the regulation of their trades. In 2004 The Worshipful Company of Poulters inaugurated the City’s inter-livery pancake race. This event now takes place annually in the Guildhall yard at 12 noon on Shrove Tuesday.
This colourful event features competitors running in their regalia or fancy dress. Each team consists of four competitors who compete for a frying pan trophy. Traditionally the Gunmakers start each heat with a bang and the Clerk to the Clockmakers takes care of timing the races. The Fruiterers provide lemons, the Cutlers provide plastic forks, the Glovers provide the white gloves worn by each runner, and the Poulters supply the all important eggs for making the pancakes.
More info: www.clockmakers.org/events
Alcester Pancake Races
The High Bailiff of Alcester, Steven Brown (right) and his assistant, Court Leet Officer Nick Dearling prepare pancakes ready for this year’s races.
When: 4th March 2014 from 12.30pm
Where: High Street, Alcester, Warwickshire
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The Alcester Court Leet maintains the traditions and ceremonies that have been particular to the area of Alcester over the last 700 years. Ceremoniously dressed officers can be seen participating in, or re-enacting their ancient roles at events throughout the year, bringing to people today glimpses of Alcester’s colourful past. They will be seen at the Alcester Pancake Races where local school children will be taking part in races up the high street. Some competitive pub teams will also be taking part in the races. Certificates, cups and Easter eggs are at stake.
More info: www.alcestercourtleet.co.uk
Littlehampton Charity Pancake Olympics
When: 1st March 2014 from 11am
Where: High Street, Littlehampton
£: Free to watch, competitors raise money for charity
What is it?
This annual event, organised by Littlehampton Town Council, sees around 20 teams of wannabe Olympians battle it out for the coveted Gold Frying Pan and £100 for their chosen charity. Teams of four adults or children are invited to take part in a series of Olympic-inspired events to raise funds for their chosen charity. There will be four disciplines including sprint, curling and obstacle courses. All the activities involve pancakes and teams have the chance to win gold, silver and bronze frying pan medals, so Winter Olympics eat your heart out.
More info: www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk
Breakfast Club Pancake Challenge
Are you ready for a challenge at the Breakfast Club?
When: 4th March 2014, the challenge takes place throughout the day
Where: At Breakfast Club venues in Soho, Angel, Hoxton, Battersea Rise and Spitalfields in London
£: Entrants pay for the pancakes (unless they win the challenge of course)
What is it?
The gloves are off and the elasticated trousers are on as this Shrove Tuesday the annual Breakfast Club Pancake Challenge will be back to raise money for charity. The rules are simple; eat a stack of 12 pancakes in less than 15 minutes and if you win the pancakes are on the Breakfast Club. If you lose, you’ll pay full price and the profits will be donated to charity. There is no need to book, just rock up to any BC cafe throughout the day to take on the challenge. If you want to be crowned King or Queen of The Pancakes then join in the Pancake Races at the Hoxton, Spitalfields and Battersea cafes at 7.30pm on the day, where contestants will be served six pancakes each, with free meals up for grabs for winners and three of their friends. To enter, email ferris@lovetbc.com with your name and race location of choice.
More info: www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com
St David’s Pancake Race & Race for the Golden Frying Pan
When: 1st March 2014 from 11am
Where: Races begin from the War Memorial, Llandudno, Conwy County Borough, Wales
£: To enter the Pancake Race costs £5 per adult and £3 per child or you can pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of £10, payable on the day of the event. To enter Race for the Golden Frying Pan costs £10 per person.
What is it?
The St David’s Day Pancake Race will begin at 11.30am and entrants will be asked to run from the start point at the War Memorial to the bandstand and back, while tossing their pancake. There will be medals for those who cross the finish line plus prizes for the best fancy dress. The Race for the Golden Frying Pan begins at 11am and the first person back over the finish line with their pancake intact will be honoured with the coveted Blind Veterans Golden Frying Pan trophy.
More info: www.blindveterans.org.uk
Blists Hill Pancake Flipping Contest
Pancake Flipping Contest at Blists Hill
When: 1st – 4th March 2014
Where: Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire
£: Admission to Blists Hill costs £15.95 for adults, £12.50 for the 60 plus and £10.50 for children
What is it?
Watch the ladies of Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge as they take part in the annual pancake flipping contest held outside the Print Shop, daily at 12 noon from Saturday, 1st March until Shrove Tuesday. Everyone is encouraged to cheer on the participants who must all wear an apron and flip their pancakes as many times as possible in the one minute allocated. The Victorian policeman, Constable Jarrett, will be in attendance to ensure fair play by all and the village school teacher will be handing out certificates to the winners. After the contest visitors can also have a go at pancake flipping themselves.
More info: www.ironbridge.org.uk
If you can’t make it to any of these quirky events then there are more pancake-themed events taking place. Here’s the best of the Shrove Tuesday rest…
Godalming Town Mayor’s Pancake Race takes place from 11am on 4th March and Chippenham Pancake Races also take place from 11am on 4th March. At The Great Redhill Pancake Race the fun and races start at 12 noon on Shrove Tuesday, on the High Street, outside the Belfry. Stafford Pancake Race takes place in the Market Square on 4th March and the Ross-on-Wye Pancake Races have races for all ages and abilities during the afternoon in the centre of town.
Hitchin will be hosting a Pancake Fair on 4th March in aid of the Garden House Hospice and St Albans Pancake Race will have a traditional running race and a Flippin’ Walkers race. Those in London can enjoy Greenwich Market‘s Shrove Tuesday Pancake race, raising money for Macmillan, and the Pancake Day Carnival Party at Shutterbug in Rivington Place from 6.30pm.
Wimborne Minster Pancake Race will feature races while the Pancake Bell is tolled and in Eastbourne St Wilfred’s Hospice will challenge teams of four to race. Reading’s Broad St Pancake Race has been running for over 20 years and will be raising money for Launchpad, and finally Hinckley’s Pancake Race is free to enter, just turn up with a frying pan to join in the fun.
If you know of an event taking place which isn’t mentioned here, then feel free to share the details with our readers by leaving the details in the comments section below.