A selection of chillies grown at West Dean.
Just a few years ago there were only one or two festivals devoted to that spicy little pepper, this year there is a festival or fiesta popping up just about everywhere. Here is Contrary Life‘s round-up of the hottest events in the UK…
Merthyr Chilli Fiesta
When: 14th June 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Merthyr Tydfil, Penderyn Square, outside the old town hall, Wales CF47 8UX
£: Free admission
Highlights: There will be a ‘Clash of the Titans Chilli Eating Contest’ taking place at 3.30pm. There will also be chilli beer, live entertainment and spicy food on offer.
More info: www.chillifest.net/merthyr
Christchurch Cheese & Chilli Festival
When: 21st & 22nd June 2014, 10am – 6pm
Where: Chapel Gate, Chapel Lane, East Parley, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6BL
£: Adults £15 and children under 14 years old go free
Highlights: A chilli eating competition, stalls, regional cheeses and real ale. There will also be a craft fair, children’s activities, wine tasting and live music.
More info: cheeseandchillifest.com
Grillstock Chilli Eating Competition
When: 28th June 2014, from 11am
Where: Albert Square, Manchester
£: Tickets from £12
Highlights: Grillstock is technically a meat-themed festival but one of the highlights is the Chilli Eating Competition. The competition begins out fairly mild and works its way up the Scovil Scale, creating a really hot challenge.
More info: grillstock.co.uk
North East Chilli Festival
When: 5th & 6th July 2014
Where: Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland NE26 4QR
£: Tickets cost £7 for Saturday and £4 for Sunday
Highlights: Promises over 80 traders selling everything from mild to wild, with hot food stalls, bars and entertainment in a historical setting.
More info: www.chillifest-ne.co.uk
Shoreham Chilli Festival
When: 12th July 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Coronation Green, High Street, Shoreham by Sea BN43 5EE
£: Free admission
Highlights: The event features a chilli eating contest, taking place at 3.30pm. Also on offer throughout the day will be a selection of hot food, products and plants.
More info: www.chillifest.net
Swindon Chilli Fiesta
When: 19th July 2014, 10.30am – 5.30pm
Where: Wharf Green, Canal Walk, Swindon SN1 1LD
£: Free admission
Highlights: Chilli inspired food such as curry, spicy snacks and hot sauces will be on offer. There will also be chilli-flavoured drink, and live entertainment including a chilli eating contest.
More info: www.chillifest.net/swindon
Hertfordshire Chilli Fiesta
When: 26th July 2014, 10.30pm – 5.30pm
Where: Bushey Sports Club, Aldenham Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2TR
£: Costs £4 to attend by car and £2 if arriving on foot
Highlights: Taking place over two days with hot curries, stuffed peppers and chilli cocktails to enjoy. The chilli eating competition will take place on 3.30pm each day.
More info: www.chillifest.net
Lakes Chilli Festival
When: 2nd & 3rd August 2014
Where: Dalemain House & Gardens, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0HB
£: Tickets cost £4.50 (early bird) and £8 afterwards
Highlights: Don’t miss the 2014 Lakes Chilli Eating Competition, music from Hot Bullets of Shotgun and La Tinto Bros. The event also has a street food market and bars.
More info: www.thelakeschillifest.co.uk
Great Dorset Chilli Festival
When: 2nd August 2014
Where: St Giles Park, Wimborne St Giles
£: Adults £5.50 (£7.50 on the gate), children (aged 11-15) £2 (£2.50 on the gate) and children under 11 go free
Highlights: There will be a chilli-con-carne cook-off on Sunday and chilli eating contests on both Saturday and Sunday at 4.30pm. Also promises chilli companies showcasing their plants, seeds and condiments, chutneys, hot sauces and chilli chocolate.
More info: www.greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk
West Dean Chilli Fiesta, one of the oldest and the best.
West Dean Chilli Fiesta
When: 8th – 10th August 2014
Where: West Dean, Nr Chichester, West Sussex
£: Day tickets cost £9.50 – £12. Camping tickets cost £45 – £90
Highlights: One of the more established chilli festivals with over 140 stalls, live music until 11pm each day, overnight camping and vintage fun fair rides. There will be cookery demonstrations, chilli glasshouses to visit and children’s activities.
More info: www.westdean.org.uk
Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
When: 16th August 2014
Where: Abingdon on Thames, Oxfordshire
£: TBC
Highlights: Expect some hot and spicy food, plus live music in the Market Place.
More info: oxfordshirechillifestival.co.uk and www.facebook.com/oxfordshirechillifestival
Eastleigh Chilli Fiesta
When: 23rd August 2014, 11am – 5.30pm
Where: Leigh Rd Recreation Ground, Leigh Rd, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9DE
£: Free admission
Highlights: Expect a chilli eating contest in the afternoon as well as food and drink stalls and live entertainment.
More info: www.chillifest.net
Benington Lordship Chilli Festival
When: 24th & 25th August 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Benington Lordship, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 7BS
£: Adults £7.50, children under 16 £2.50, and under 12’s go free
Highlights: Festival held in the hidden gem of a garden at the historic Benington Lordship. There will be around 60 stalls selling chilli products and artisan beer. There will be family entertainment all day and a chilli eating competition at 4pm each day.
More info: www.beningtonlordship.co.uk
Upton Cheyney Chilli & Cider Festival
When: 30th & 31st August 2014, 11am – 5pm (evening party starts at 7pm)
Where: Manor Farm, Upton Cheyney, Bristol BS30 6NQ
£: Day tickets cost £6, camping costs £7.50 per person. Evening party tickets cost £15
Highlights: Have a look around the chilli farm and try the chilli tasting table. There will be a chilli cook-off, a chilli eating competition, traditional farmyard games, egg throwing and a chilli chase race.
More info: www.uptonchilli.co.uk
Lincoln Chilli Fiesta
When: 6th & 7th September 2014, 10.30am – 5.30pm
Where: St Marks Square, Lincoln LN5 7EX
£: Free admission
Highlights: Festival with food, drink and music. Expect hot and spicy food, stalls with chilli-themed products and an eating contest for the brave.
More info: www.chillifest.net
The popular chilli contest at Birmingham’s Chilli Festival.
Birmingham Chilli Festival
When: 19th – 20th September 2014
Where: Brindleyplace, Birmingham
£: Free admission
Highlights: Features a variety of stalls selling chilli-inspired food, along with live music and cookery demonstrations from Brindleyplace restaurants. Hot limbo and salsa performances also taking place. The popular chilli eating competition will see 15 brave people compete against each other to see who can eat the hottest chilli.
More info: www.brindleyplace.com
Scottish Chilli Festival
When: 20th & 21st September 2014, 10.30am – 5.30pm
Where: Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland PH2 6BD
£: Tickets cost £6.30 for adults, £5.70 for students, £4.40 for children and £20 for a family
Highlights: This is the second annual Scottish Chilli Festival and on offer will be hot curry, Spanish food, hot sauces, plants, seeds and chilli cocktails. Don’t miss the ‘Clash of the Titans’ chilli eating contest.
More info: www.chillifest.net
Huntingdon Chilli Fiesta
When: 18th October 2014, 10.30am – 5pm
Where: Commemoration Hall, 39 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3AQ
£: Free admission
Highlights: On offer will be chilli-themed food and drink such as chilli beer and hot curry. There will be a chilli eating contest at 3.30pm.
More info: www.chillifest.net