I have a soft spot for Reigate. It has that neat Surrey charm where you can buy a decent coffee, pretend you are only browsing the bookshop, then somehow end up walking it all off on the Priory Park paths. You might notice the town has a way of making ordinary Saturdays feel a bit like a day out.
So when I heard that, for the first time this year, a proper celebration of cheese and chilli is rolling into Reigate, I did what any sensible adult would do. I started planning my outfit around elasticated waistbands and told myself I would just have a little taste. Just a little. We all know how that goes.
A town that suits a wander
Reigate is brilliant for this sort of thing because it invites you to mooch. You can arrive, have a gentle potter, and still feel like you have done something with your day, even if the main achievement is discovering a new favourite snack that you will bang on about for weeks.
And honestly, a festival that brings together a cheese festival mood with a chilli festival kick feels like it belongs here. Reigate has that friendly buzz where strangers will chat about the weather, and then suddenly you are swapping opinions on whether smoky heat is better than sharp heat. It is very British, really. A polite argument, held while holding a napkin.
Cheese, chilli, and that happy wobble
There is something slightly theatrical about the pairing. Cheese turns up smooth and comforting, like a warm jumper you forgot you loved. Chilli arrives with a grin and a warning. Together, they make you feel brave. Or at least brave enough to try a sauce that makes your eyes water while you insist, quietly, that you are absolutely fine.
I love the way these events smell as well. It starts with that creamy, savoury hum, then comes the spice in the air, not quite a sneeze, not quite a laugh. People hover, taste, pause, then go back for another bit. Because you have to check, do you not? Just to be sure.
My ideal Reigate festival day
I would begin slowly. A first lap to see what is what, no big decisions. Then a second lap where you start chatting, because everyone else is chatting, and you find yourself nodding along like an expert.
At some point you will spot a cheese that looks too good to ignore. You will try it. You will think about it for the next ten minutes. Then you will go back. That is normal behaviour, and I refuse to hear otherwise.
Later, when the chilly side starts calling your name, the sensible move is to build up gently. But will I do that? To be honest, probably not. I will likely jump in with something overconfident, then spend the next few minutes looking for water and pretending I am simply admiring the view.
Before you go
If you are local, or you fancy an excuse to visit Reigate, this is the sort of day that feels like summer, even if the sky is doing that grey thing again. Go with friends, go with family, or go solo and let the tasting do the talking. You will not be the only one saying, “Just one more,” and meaning it.
For full event details, times, and tickets, head to the official site: Cheese and Chilli Festival.
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