One thing us Brits are known for is being a little eccentric, but would you really want to go so far as eating raw stinging nettles (not the harmless boiled variety)…!?
This quirky tradition goes back to an argument two farmers were having in the Bottle Inn (Marshwood, Dorset) about who had the longest nettles growing in their fields. The pub landlord at the time decided to create a competition for the longest nettle, which ran for 3 years.
Que a local hospital porter – Alex Williams – who on hearing of this tradition entered a nettle of 15′ 6″ (yes that’s 15 foot!) and stated “If anybody beats that I’ll eat it”. Unfortunately for Alex, an American couple on hearing this searched and found one of 16′, so Alex true to his word ate the 16 foot nettle!
This tradition continued until 1997 with Alex either winning the nettle length competition, or eating the winning nettle.
In 1997, the then landlord of the Bottle Inn wanted to create a kindof Medieval fayre around the village and asked Alex if he would agree to a nettle quantity eating competition – thus the World Stinging Nettle Eating Championship was born.
Today the event attracts people from all around the world to the village of Marshwood, with people eating raw stinging nettles to beat Alex and the other competitors. The event is held around June of each year, along with the accompanying music festival.
More information from the Bottle Inn, Marshwood
Useful extras:
Hotels in the Axminster (near Marshwood)
Attractions in Axminster
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