Hot Cross Bun Ceremony at The Bell Inn, 1998

Clip from a Brentwood Talking Newspaper magazine about a special ceremony at The Bell Inn, Horndon on the Hill (SA 2/1/50/1). Every Good Friday, a hot cross bun is tied to a beam in the ceiling, a ritual that has happened every year since 1906. The clip, recorded in 1998, describes the origins of the tradition, which still continues today.

As well as reading the week’s news from local papers, the Brentwood and District Talking Newspaper produces its own magazines featuring original pieces of local interest for its listeners. This service, like other talking newspapers, is completely free for anyone who is blind or partially sighted.

The magazine feature goes on to describe a similar ceremony in a pub in East London. Are there any other pubs performing such rituals today?