Last held at The Bottle inn, on the Dorset/Devon border in 2019, and having been held elsewhere during the intervening time, the World Stinging Nettle [Urtica dioica] Championship returned to its original home, where it started in 1997, on Saturday 21 June 2025.

Other attractions, including morris dancing and a hog roast, were provided, but the main event took place between 5 and 6 p.m.  About 30 participants, mostly male, competed, to try and eat the leaves from the longest length of nettle stems within an hour.  The rules included if anyone left ‘the platform’ (really a row of tables with competitors sat on either side) they would be disqualified; if the supply of nettles ran out before the hour was up, the competition would end (the supply was more than adequate); and if you were sick during the competition you should puke into a glass and then drink it, otherwise you’d be disqualified (at least one participant did this).  It was unclear what length of nettles the winning lady and the winning gentleman ate,* but both were presented with small prizes.

There was also a competition for the longest nettle, the winner measuring 8ft 8ins.  This, together with the runner-up, was hung from the front of the pub.

* According to The Independent, Michael Hobbs, the winning man, ate 74ft, and Lucy Dermally, the winning lady, ate 68ft.