Thousands Attend Hallaton’s Historic Easter Bottle Kicking Event
Written by HFM News on 8th April 2026
Thousands flocked to Hallaton on Easter Monday for the village’s ancient Bottle Kicking event.
The rugby-style tradition saw teams from Hallaton and Medbourne compete to move barrels, known as “bottles,” across two streams.
Hallaton won this year’s contest 2-0 in a best-of-three match lasting nearly two hours.
Two of the bottles contain beer, while a third – the wooden “dummy” painted red and white – adds a twist to the game.
The event, thought to date back 2,000 years, follows centuries-old customs and raises money for local charities, with visitors attending from far and wide.
The day included a traditional church service, parade and blessing of a hare pie by the local vicar, which was then cut up and shared with spectators.
Phil Allen, who has chaired the Bottle Kicking event for over 50 years, said he was thrilled with how this year’s celebrations went, praising the turnout and the community spirit that keeps the centuries-old tradition alive:
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