Alfriston business owners to hold pancake race

Organisers of The Great Alfriston Pancake Race Penny Macleod and Martin Pite in front of St Andrew's Church. Photograph: Justin Lycett/ SUS-201202-122912001

Martin Pite, of Shot Coffee House, and Penny Macleod, of Totties Toy House, will put on The Great Alfriston Pancake Race on Sunday, February 23.

The event – thought to be Alfriston’s first pancake race – has come about to ‘embrace’ the road closure of the High Street and North Street as South East Water replaces an unreliable water main.

The major engineering project started on January 2 and is expected to take five months to complete.

Organisers of the Alfriston pancake race Penny Macleod and Martin Pite in front of St Andrew's Church. Photograph: Justin Lycett/ SUS-201202-122832001

Mr Pite says the pancake race has had a good public response since it was advertised.

He said: “The amount of interest and uptake has been quite staggering.

“I’m just praying it’s going to be a dry day.

“I’m hoping it will be something which we can make an annual event.”

Races will start at the Market Cross and run towards St Andrew’s church, known as the Cathedral of the Downs, and a donation from money raised will go to the church.

Mr Pite said: “We’re hoping that people will really embrace the vintage nature – or want for a better word – and dress accordingly, or at least put a pinny on.”

Registration will open from 10.30am on the day at the Alfriston War Memorial Hall, where pancakes will also be served throughout the event which is set to run until 2.30pm.

Entry is £1 for adults and 50p for children; adults are asked to bring a frying pan.