Ancient Easter Tradition To Return To Hallaton

One of the UK’s oldest continued customs returns to a village near Market Harborough on Easter Monday.

The Hallaton Bottle Kicking dates back 2,000 years and is set to once again attract thousands of visitors.

The rugby-style contest will see villagers from Hallaton take-on residents from neighbouring Medbourne, to wrestle barrels filled with beer over fields in a bid to claim victory.

Hallaton have claimed the bragging rights for the past 13 years.

Last year’s Hallaton Bottle Kicking

The contest will be preceded by a traditional parade of a hare pie, which is handed out to spectators by the village rector and a church service.

East Midlands Ambulance Service is no longer able to support the event, so organisers are instead drafting in a private company, which comes at a cost.

Fundraising will take place including through drink sales at the Bewick Arms pub, where the Bottle Kicking organisers will be running the bar.

Phil Allan has been chairman of Hallaton Bottle Kicking for over 50 years and spoke to HFM ahead of this year’s event:

Phil Allan with one of the ‘bottles’

Parking for the event will be located as you enter Hallaton from Medbourne Road:

Timetable of the day: