After watching the Spitalfields Pancake Race just off of Brick Lane last year (Spitalfields Pancake Race 2014) and the year before (Spitalfields Pancake Race 2013), I decided to watch the Pancake Day race again this year. The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is located just off of Brick Lane on Dray Walk, literally opposite the office where I currently work. Perfect!
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, takes place a few weeks before Easter. This is traditionally the day before fasting began, so milk and eggs and other products would need to be used up. The day was a 'half-holiday' at one time in England. Pancake races were a tradition and held in villages and towns. These events are not so common anymore, but there are a few in London - South Bank, Westminster, Leadenhall Market, and this one at Spitalfields.
The Spitalfields Pancake Day Race raises money for charity for the London Air Ambulance. The winner of the race receives a special engraved frying pan, and there are also awards for the best costume. This year, the two 'clowns' from the previous years were there, and they were joined by a new female 'clown'.
This year's event was three times as busy as the previous year's, and it was a bit too busy for my liking. I believe the extra crowds were due to more publicising as well as Pancake Day taking place in the middle of half-term week this week. I noticed a lot of children and families watching this year's race, and I had not noticed that previously.
In the past two years, entrants included Spitalfields City Farm, Cath Kidston, Aldgate Towers (construction), women celebrating their 60th birthday, and the Tramshed. This year, we had entrants from Cafe Galvin restaurant, another construction company, Big Chill Bar, and Tatty Devine. Spitalfields City Farm was in the previous two years, but they were missing this year.
Creative costumes included pirates, Where's Waldo (or Wally or any other names he goes by), egg-splats, and super heroes. Without further delay, the remainder of my photographs from Pancake Day 2015 are below.
The winners of the race this year were nfpSynergy. Best-behaved were a mother and her young children, dubbed "Two Point Four Children". The best-dressed went to The Rotters, which was a group comprised of two children. I actually liked the group dressed as pirates, the "Where's Wally" and Tatty Devine's smashed-egg-on-head. If I had to choose a winner, I would have a difficult time!
This was followed up with a trip to The Diner in Spitalfields Market, where I had my own pancakes. The Diner actually has a special Pancake Day pancake menu. I ordered the Oreo pancakes with marshmallow fluff. I also ordered a side of bacon, and it came with maple syrup as well. They were good. Red velvet cupcakes and savoury ones could also be enjoyed.
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