Christchurch Cheese & Chilli Festival
20th & 21st May 2023
Saturday - 10am to 6pm
Sunday - 10am to 5pm
After such an amazing event in 2022, we are delighted to announce that the Cheese and Chilli Festival is back in Christchurch for 2023. The event is now in it’s 9th year! The event in 2023 will bring an amazing array of tastes, colours and experiences to town and is a ‘must go to event’. Come rain or shine, the event will be fantastic!
Thank you to our 2022 sponsors which were:
If you’d like more information on partnering us at this fantastic event in 2023 please contact us.
Main Attractions
Street Theatre
Circus / Fire Performer
Simon Chainey is an accomplished performer based in the South coast of the United Kingdom. Simon turned his love of circus skills from a hobby into a full time profession by founding a group of performers specialising in high-energy fire shows.
Recently Simon has diversified into street performing and uses his incredible skill and stage presence to great effect.
Cooking Theatre
Chilli Olly & Chilli Dave Presents
A number of cooking demonstrations or talks will be offered by professionals from the cheese and chilli industry. Many sessions will be hosted by the famous Chilli Olly but we will also have many guest speakers. See the schedule for further details. The Demonstration Theatre will also host the popular Hot Food Challenge, Ready Steady Cook interactive cooking session plus many more.
Chilli Eating Competition
The Chilli Eating Competition takes place each day at around 4pm. It’s quite a sight to see grown adults struggle to eat tiny fruits and hilarious to see the consequences! The winner of the competition is the person who can stay in the game the longest! If you are mad enough for the challenge, please contact us.
Live Music
A festival is not a festival without some live music! To keep us entertained, we have a number of bands playing for us throughout the weekend. The bands will be celebrated musicians from around the region playing anything from from jazz to rock. See the schedule for further information.
Verses Food Challenge
The Verses Food Challenge is a crazy 30 minutes of watching people try and devour a HOT meal prepared lovingly by our resident chefs Chilli Olly and Chilli Dave. The winner is the person who can finish theirs first! If you are mad enough for the challenge, please contact us.
Walkabout Wendy
Wendy Sax – Wendy’s versatility enables her to play in many different musical styles including jazz, blues, pop, soul, Ibiza chillout, and contemporary smooth jazz and groove, making her popular and in demand and we get to enjoy her music all day.
Children's Entertainment
We have number of FREE activities available for the kids. We have Punch & Judy, Magic Shows, Treasure Hunts, Balloon Modelling, Giant Bubble Parties, Meet Kerry the Koala Crazy Golf, stilt walkers, walkabout musicians and Circus Skills available. There are paid for activities also such as mini fun fair rides, axe throwing, face painting, inflatables etc.
Punch & Judy
“A Classic Whodunit”
Punch & Judy is a classic show which the kids love. It’s also a time to have 30 minutes or so to grab a drink etc and relax as we’ll take the strain. The show is a fun and interactive play which we all know and love.
Meet Kerry The Koala
We have our very own mascot, Kerry The Koala! She’s 3m tall and filled with air and very friendly? We’d love you to come and meet her!
Taste Tent
At each event we have a tailored selection of sauces from various traders around the site and we ask you to judge which ones you prefer. When entering the event, you are given a ballot slip to be used in this area. Your vote counts!
Crazy Golf
Another FREE activity, why not test yourself against our very own Cheese & Chilli Crazy Golf Course. Par 27! Large and small putters available plus multicoloured balls so no cheating.
Cheese
We have an amazing array of cheese on offer. We select a variation of cheese to be present at the event which means we don’t have lots of stalls selling the same varieties but a hand picked selection just for you.
Chilli
An array of lovely chilli available for you to sample and purchase. We are very lucky to be supported by some of the uk’s leading growers, makers and manufacturers of chilli related products. It’s a chance to come and try something new and learn something about these fantastic products.
Good Times
If the activities on offer aren’t your thing, you can just come and have a good time with your friends or family. Let the good times roll!
Dan The Hat
Dan has been performing all over the world ,for the last 16 years.
His quick wit and on the button ‘improv’ silliness is a sure fire hit with any audience!
Let ‘Dan the Hat’ take you on a frenzied journey of Skills, Comedy. Stupid Stunts and heaps of Audience interaction, (whether they like it or not!)
Bubble Party
A moment for the kids to go crazy and chase all the bubbles! We have giant and little bubbles to make. We even let the kids have a go at making some themselves.
Story Teller
Storytelling is one of our oldest forms of communication and artistic expression. From the very beginning stories have been told, adapted and shared. Through the ages storytellers have engaged audiences with sagas, legends, fairy tales, epics and anecdotes. So from Great Uncle Ned’s sharpened thigh bone to the present day there will be a place for those that like to spin a yarn and those that love to listen.
Fun Fair Rides
Steven Hill Amusements will be supplying us with some rides. Here are some example images of rides they have available but it is not yet confirmed which rides will be present.
Beer
Trade Stalls
Street Theatre
and much more...
What's On
In 2023, we will be supporting The Listening Ear.
The Listening Ear
The Listening Ear
Dedicated to providing the best possible counselling to children and young people aged 5-19.
Working across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, we provide a professional service within local schools.
Our Misson
To provide a professional and confidential service to the children and young people in our community; empowering them to manage stress and anxiety; and therefore, develop an improved quality of life.
Location, Information, Tickets and Travel
The venue is next to Bournemouth Airport, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6AD.
What 3 Words (unloads.sorters.uptake)
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Bus Travel Can be via the Yellow Buses running from Bournemouth Town Centre to the Adventure Wonderland which is a short walk from the Estate.
Discount Vouchers
Don’t forget to collect your discount vouchers on the door along with your programme. The vouchers are worth approximately £20 so you can get the cost of your entry back when you buy your goodies. The vouchers are available to spend whilst at the event and some are available to spend online from selected traders.
Dogs
Dogs are very welcome at the show, all we asks is that they are kept on leads and you pick up any waste.
Free Parking
There will be FREE parking at the event ground. The Listening Ear team has kindly offered to control our car park and will kindly ask for any donation to support the fantastic work the charity does.
Public Transport
Train – The nearest train station is 3 miles away (Christchurch Train Station). Bournemouth Train Station is 5 miles away.
Bus – The 737 bus service takes you from Bournemouth Train Station to Bournemouth Airport which is situated next to the event location. See link for more details. There is no bus route from Christchurch Train Station to the event location.
Camping
Camping is available at the Christchurch Cheese & Chilli Festival at £20 per pitch per night or Glamping Bell Tents at £210 for Friday and Saturday nights (Saturday night only Bell Tents are also charged at £210).
Facilities include toilets only. No electrical hook-up available.
Campervans are preferable due to the nature of the ground. Alternatively, we are able to offer clamping tents via our friends from Pitching It.
If you are arriving Friday, Camping is permitted but access must be prior to 7pm. Access will not be permitted after this time.
Pitches can be booked via the ticket page.
Recycling
We are committed to making the Festival more environmentally friendly and we encourage you to do the same. Help us to keep the site tidy and leave no trace. Please bring and use your own water bottles. Try to conserve water on non-essential use. Do not bring glass; no glass bottles are allowed on site. We will also be offering visitors the opportunity to purchase a sustainable reusable cup instead of using single use plastic containers at the bar. We are actively exploring other ways that we can help reduce our carbon footprint. Together we can make a difference.
Top 5 things you can do to help:
1. Recycle, recycle recycle!!
2. Keep tidy. Please don’t leave rubbish or equipment
3. Bring your own water bottle and refill onsite
4. Car share
5. Use public transport or as sustainable as possible transport, particularly if local
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