Cheese Rolling 2026 at Cooper’s Hill

Arguably the most famous wheel of cheese is the one used for the annual cheese rolling competition in Gloucester.

One of the UK’s oddest, but most entertaining, traditions involves dozens of people chasing a cheese wheel down a hill. To anyone outside of the UK, this looks like one of the wacky and wonderful things that makes our country so unique, but to the people of Gloucester it’s an event steeped in local history.

So, although we won’t be providing the all-important cheese wheel ourselves, we thought it would be fun to share some information about the cheese rolling event, as a celebration of all things cheese. After all, this year is the 200th anniversary of cheese rolling (depending on who you ask!), so now’s the perfect time to shed some light on the infamous cheese rolling festival.

When did the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Tradition Start?

Like many English traditions, the first cheese rolling event is a bit of a mystery. One thing we know for sure is that the first recorded event was in 1826, meaning the wheel has rolled at least 200 times now.

But some sources suggest it’s much older than that, potentially being a tradition over 600 years old! Again this is speculative, but it may have pagan roots, or could have been a way to maintain grazing rights on the common. There are some other rituals that are still maintained to this day, but most have taken a back seat in the 21st century.

As time passed, the event grew significantly. Now there are multiple races throughout the day, and the cheese rolling itself is only a part of a much larger festival celebration although it’s still the highlight.

It has also become a much more international affair, although English passion runs the deepest. There have been previous winners from multiple countries, from Belgium and Japan to Egypt and the US. People flock to Cooper’s Hill to try their luck and join in on the festivities.

How does the Cheese Rolling Event Work?

Well, as the name suggests, it’s a pretty simple affair. Cooper’s Hill is a 180m long, very steep slope, making it a tough journey up or down.

The cheese wheel is released, and then 1 second later, the chasers set off in hot pursuit. The goal is not to catch the cheese; if you ever see the speeds it can reach, you’d know that’d be impossible! Instead, the first person to reach the finish line wins the cheese.

Men and women race separately, and there are much safer uphill races for children and people less than keen on the idea of running full pelt down a slippery slope.

It is a dangerous event, and injuries are still common. There have been attempts to make the event safer, such as replacing the cheese with a foam wheel in 2013, but these changes are quickly reverted as it takes away from the tradition.

But now for the most important part. Let’s talk cheese.

The Cheese used at the Cheese Rolling Festival

Despite its popularity, this is still very much a ‘local’ festival. The cheese wheel used has always been produced locally, never imported from outside of the area.

As far as we’re aware, the cheese wheel used has always been 3-4kg of Double Gloucester, a strong, full-bodied white cheese that’s a popular choice for cheese lovers. Unlike single Gloucester, this is not a PDO cheese, and can therefore be produced anywhere in the UK, but keeping it local has been a proud tradition.

To keep it safe during its rapid journey to the bottom of the hill, the cheese wheel is secured within a wooden casing. After centuries of practice, the event organisers know how to keep their cheese wheel safe, so it can be gifted later.

As a cheese-themed festival, there is plenty of other cheeses available.

The Importance of the Cheese Rolling Festival

Although it’s mostly seen as a fun day out, and can be quite controversial, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling festival is an important one. It is a preservation of English heritage – with so many traditions fading away it’s important that some events like this, which welcome all people, are looked after for years to come.

It’s important for the world of artisan cheese too. Festivals like these are the perfect opportunity for cheese makers to share their latest creations and network with their peers. The festival is a celebration of British cheese in many ways, so we’re always glad to see when it’s announced each year.

We’ve been in business for more than a century, but around us cheese production has become automated and factory-focused, which is affecting the quality of cheese you find in shops. So it’s a delight that a festival with so much history is more popular than ever before.

However, we’ve been directly involved with the Cheese Rolling Festival; the idea of throwing yourself down a hill isn’t quite our style. But don’t think we stay hidden away behind closed doors!

Our Involvement with Cheese Festivals

Many of our cheese selections are award-winners. This means we submitted them to be scrutinised by some of Europe’s top cheese experts, and it’s safe to say they like what we do!

We love any opportunity to showcase our cheese, so attend a lot of local festivals to give the UK more insight into what we do. One of our favourites is the Royal Shrovetide Football game, an event with even more history than Cheese Rolling.

A tribute to the hectic games of football played during the reign of Henry VIII, this is a fun event that the people of Ashbourne are very proud of. And since that’s close to us, we often turn up to get our share of the fun. So if you happen to be free on Ash Wednesday this year and want to see a spectacle, we hope to see you there!

In the meantime, if you have any questions about us, our cheese, or the events we like to attend, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!