Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Alternative Sport > Crazy cheese rolling returns to Gloucestershire

Crazy cheese rolling returns to Gloucestershire

By Caroline King - May 24, 2018Posted in : Alternative Sport

Cheese Rolling at Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire

Cheese Rolling competitors race down Cooper’s Hill.

When: 28th May 2018, 12pm – 3pm

Where: Cooper’s Hill, Brockworth, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire

£: Free

What is it?

Cheese Rolling has been taking place at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire since the 1800s, and despite the official event closing in 2010, it still attracts a crowd of crazy cheese rolling fans every year.

This year’s unofficial event takes place on the bank holiday, Monday 28th May.  Anyone can take part in the contest, but entrants are responsible for their own safety.  Anyone considering taking part should be aware that this unusual sport has caused broken bones and other injuries over the years, so if you are thinking of taking part do bear this in mind.

Traditionally, there are five different races down the hill but each begin with a round Double Gloucester cheese being hurled down the hill, followed by the competitors who attempt to catch the cheese. No one ever manages to capture the rolling cheese as it hurtles down the hill, but the winner is usually the person to reach the bottom first.  Due to the steepness of the hill, competitors are frequently seen tumbling head over heels as they attempt to reach the cheese.

The brave (or crazy) winners receive a Double Gloucester cheese as their prize.  The cheese used for the event is usually a 7-9lb round of Double Gloucester, protected in wooden casing and decorated with red and blue ribbons.

No one is exactly sure of the origins of this unusual event, but theories range from it being a pagan custom, to a way of protecting grazing rights on the common.

You can get a flavour of this mad cap tradition by watching a video from 2016’s event.


More info: www.cheese-rolling.co.uk

Related Posts

  • Watch shin kicking and spurning the barre at the Cotswold Olimpicks
  • Take the sack at Tetbury Woolsack Races
  • Throw yourself into the Welsh Open Stone Skimming Championships

Tagged With: Free events, Gloucestershire events, May bank holiday events, South West

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

A five-metre tall puppet travels through Crawley
Aura’s Odyssey with five-metre tall puppet visits Crawley

This week, see a five-metre tall puppet travel through Crawley in West Sussex. Puppet Aura will visit the town centre and parks, and ride on an open-top bus…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 · Contrary Life