The World Gravy Wrestling Championships returned to Bacup on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August 2026, bringing its unique mix of sport, laughter, charity and community spirit to Bacup Cricket Club.

While the wrestlers took centre stage in the pool of Lancashire gravy, a dedicated team of volunteers was working behind the scenes to help make the day such a success. Among them were members of the East Lancashire Freemasons, who generously gave their time to support the event and the thousands of people who came along to enjoy the spectacle.
The Championships, organised by the Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company, Bacup Cricket Club and East Lancashire Hospice, raise valuable funds for hospice care while providing a fun-filled family day for the local community.

For the East Lancashire Freemasons, volunteering was about much more than simply helping to run an unusual sporting event. Their involvement demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to supporting local communities and charitable causes. Volunteers gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to help with the smooth running of the day, assisting visitors and helping create the welcoming atmosphere that made the event such an enjoyable occasion.

The 2026 Championships were particularly special as the event moved to its new home at Bacup Cricket Club. With family activities, charity stalls, food and drink, and the famous gravy wrestling itself, there was plenty for visitors to enjoy. Around 1,500 litres of gravy were used during the day’s competition, adding to the spectacle and ensuring that the event lived up to its reputation as one of Lancashire’s most unusual charity occasions.

The East Lancashire Freemasons’ contribution is a reminder that successful community events depend on far more than what happens in the spotlight. Behind every wrestling bout, cheering crowd and fundraising opportunity are volunteers prepared to give up their own time to help others.

Their support helped ensure that the World Gravy Wrestling Championships could deliver not only a memorable day of entertainment, but also an important contribution to East Lancashire Hospice and the wider community.

For everyone involved, it was a day where community spirit, charity and a healthy dose of Lancashire eccentricity came together — proving once again that sometimes doing good really can be all gravy.