Cheese and Chilli Festival Winchester: Packed first day with contest

Taking place from Saturday, June 3 to Sunday, June 4, the festival was at the North Walls Recreation Ground.

The family-friendly festival, which is the only UK festival which celebrates chilli and cheese, featured a huge range of stalls and attractions for attendees to enjoy.

There was a range of activities for families to enjoy (Image: Newsquest)Alongside stalls selling an array of food, there were also fairground rides for children, musical performances and cookery demonstrations.

READ MORE: Cheese and Chilli Festival 2023 to return to Winchester TODAY and kids get in free

‘Chilli Olly’ Reynalds, who acts as cookery theatre host at the festival and who was also selling wares, said that, despite the name, the festival is more than just cheese and chilli.

Calling the festival both family and budget friendly, he said: “We’ve got a Punch and Judy show going on, you’ve got cookery theatres, there was a magician earlier on, storytime, face painting.

Event organiser Simon Stewart (left) with Chilli Olly Reynalds (Image: Newsquest)“And every year something gets added. So, if you haven’t been, well where have you been for the last 10 years? It’s definitely worth it, I’d say.”

However, the star of the festival was the Chilli Eating Competition.

Taking place on Saturday at the festival’s main stage at 4pm, the competition saw six contestants progress through several rounds eating increasingly spicy chillies, before ending in a “race off” where the final competitors would have to be the first to finish a specially prepared spicy gherkin.

This year’s victor was Ray “Sunny” Gerrard, who travelled from Southampton to enjoy the festival. He said: “I feel like I’m burning inside!

“Last time I did it I finished second, at least this time I won.”

Simon Stewart, who organises Cheese and Chilli Festival at venues across the UK, said: “We’re very grateful for the custom really. We appreciate the support, it is well-supported by the community. We get fantastic feedback online from the event and we’re privileged to be given the opportunity.

“Because the local authority do allow us to come here, they don’t have to, and they’ve done that and supported us since 2015 and we’re very grateful.”

Tickets are £10 for adults on the gate, and free for under 16s. 

The Cheese and Chilli Festival 2023 will conclude in Winchester on June 4.