MUCH like many of today’s festivals, Pancake Day is believed to originate in a centuries-old pagan holiday. Warm and round, pancakes symbolised the sun and celebrated the arrival of spring. The tradition was later adopted, less romantically, by Christians; who ate pancakes to use up indulgent dairy products and eggs (it is estimaed we Brits get through 52 million of them each Pancake Day) before the 40-day fasting season of Lent.

Much like Easter, the exact date of Shrove Tuesday changes every year but always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday - the first day of Lent.

In 1994 the Co-op organized the creation of a whopping three-tonne pancake in Rochdale

The custom of flipping pancakes has an equally colourful past: it was supposedly born in the fifteenth century, when a disorganised woman in Buckinghamshire was interrupted by the shriving bell whilst cooking, and ran to church still flipping. Her Olney hometown has since held a pancake flipping race since 1445. Suffolk’s Dean Gould, meanwhile, is the world’s ‘fastest tosser’, managing 349 flips in two minutes.

It’s Greater Manchester, however, that holds the record for the world’s largest pancake: in 1994 the Co-op organized the creation of a whopping three-tonne pancake measuring 49ft 3in in diameter and one inch deep in Rochdale. 

Olney Pancake RaceOlney Pancake Race

But enough with the history - the bottom line is, it’s a flipping great excuse for a guilt-free gorge. If you’re feeling particularly gluttonous, why not head to Black Dog NWS where they're offering free pancakes with every drink as well as a pancake eating contest. You may not be able to beat the world record of wolfing 50 3.25oz pancakes in ten minutes but you can give it a shot. Turn up at 7pm, gird your loins and get scoffing. The winner gets a £25 bar tab plus bowling and pool.

Northern Quarter's Common are also getting in on the action, with members getting a pancake when purchasing a drink, whilst Home Sweet Home has collaborated with Deliveroo to deliver pancakes to your door. Other hotspots this Shrove Tuesday include Moose Coffee on York Street, Oak Street Cafe in Manchester Craft & Design Centre and Nutters in Rochdale.

Alternatively, you can go home and get battered...

HOW TO MAKE PANCAKES:

What you'll need: 1. 100g plain flour 2. 2 large eggs 3. 300ml milk 4. 1 tbsp of oil 5. lemon wedges, sugar or both to serve.

- Bung the flour, eggs and milk with a pinch of salt into a large jug and whisk to a smooth batter (if you have time set aside to rest for 20 mins)

- Stick a medium sized frying pan on a medium heat and spread a little oil across the base.

- Once hot cook pour in some of the batter and cook your pancake on each side for one minute until golden.

- Drizzle with lemon and a sprinkle of sugar and off you go. Alternatively, douse in Nutella and to hell with it...