13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
World nettle eating competition returns to Dorset pub
The World Nettle Eating Competition has returned to the Bottle Inn Pub in Marshwood, Dorset, after a hiatus.
Contestants in the competition eat 2-foot lengths of stinging nettles, with cider provided to assist consumption.
This year, Michael Hobbs won the men's competition by eating 74 feet of nettles, and Lucy Dermody won the women's competition with 68 feet.
The competition began around 40 years ago as a nettle growing contest, evolving into an eating challenge when a participant offered to eat any nettle longer than his own.
During the Bottle Inn's closure since 2019, the competition was temporarily hosted by Dorset Nectar Cider Farm.