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Liverpool's annual pancake race returns

Richard BakerNorth West
News imageLIVERPOOL BID COMPANY Shot of several chefs in their chef whites running round the church gardens with pancake and pan in hand. The Liver Building can be seen in the distance.LIVERPOOL BID COMPANY
The city's chefs will compete to be the fastest pancake flipper

Liverpool is set to host an annual pancake-flipping race first held more than 40 years ago.

Chefs from several of the city's restaurants will battle to become the fastest pancake-flipper, and win a special pancake pan engraved with their name.

Hopefuls will have to run two laps of the gardens of Liverpool's Parish Church, tossing their pancakes as they go.

This year's event will feature commentary from Neil Atkinson from Liverpool FC fan channel The Anfield Wrap.

This year's event will see two heats to determine the finalists, event organisers Liverpool BID Company confirmed.

Not without its controversies over the years, the 2025 event was disrupted after one chef complained than another was not flipping his pancake enough, resulting in a "VAR ruling".

News imageLIVERPOOL BID COMPANY Newspaper clipping from 1982 about that year's pancake race. A man from the clergy flips his pancake whilst another wears a chef's hat with the starting pistol.LIVERPOOL BID COMPANY
Liverpool's annual pancake race has taken place for more than 40 years

In recent years Alex Hopkins, from Spanish restaurant LunyaLita, has won the event three times in a row.

But his run came to an end last year when Ma Boyle's Alehouse and Eatery chef Sebastian Wojton took home the trophy.

News imageLIVERPOOL BID COMPANY The prize for the event, an engraved pan is shown. It is copper, with the names of previous winners engraved around the sidewallLIVERPOOL BID COMPANY
The winner will take home an engraved pan

This year, chefs from the Hilton Hotel, Pen Factory, Crowne Plaza, Tempest, Nova Scotia, Titanic Hotel, Atlantic Tower Hotel, Fazenda, The Municipal will bid to take the crown from Ma Boyle's.

The race will start today at 11:00 GMT at Liverpool Parish Church.

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