National Oatcake Day
August 8
About National Oatcake Day
National Oatcake Day takes place every year on 8 August and celebrates the Staffordshire oatcake, a soft, savoury oat pancake closely associated with Stoke-on-Trent and the wider Potteries region of North Staffordshire. The day was started in 2010 by Biddulph radio DJ Terry Bossons to champion a much-loved local food, and it has since grown into an annual celebration embraced by oatcake shops, cafes and home cooks across the area.
How to Celebrate National Oatcake Day
The Staffordshire oatcake is endlessly versatile, so there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion whether you live in the Potteries or have never tried one before.
- Visit a traditional oatcake shop – Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding towns still have independent oatcake bakers turning out fresh batches daily. Buying from one supports a genuine local trade that has survived for generations.
- Order the classic cheese and bacon – The most popular filling is grated cheese and bacon, melted under the grill until the oatcake folds around a gooey centre. It is the benchmark by which every oatcake is judged.
- Make your own from scratch – A batter of oatmeal, plain flour, yeast, salt and warm water or milk is all you need. Leave it to prove, then cook each oatcake on a hot, lightly greased griddle until bubbles form and the surface sets.
- Experiment with modern fillings – Spinach and feta, mushroom and Stilton, or chorizo and egg all work beautifully. The oatcake is a blank canvas, so treat it like a savoury wrap.
- Try a sweet version – Although savoury fillings dominate, oatcakes are delicious with golden syrup, jam or banana for a breakfast with a sweeter note.
- Host an oatcake brunch – Cook a large batch, set out bowls of fillings and let friends and family build their own. It is an easy, low-cost way to feed a crowd.
- Share the regional story – Many people outside Staffordshire have never heard of the oatcake. Posting a photo and a short explanation helps spread the word about this regional speciality.
- Freeze a stash – Oatcakes freeze well and reheat in seconds, so make extra and keep a supply for quick weekday breakfasts long after the day itself.
What is National Oatcake Day?
National Oatcake Day is an annual celebration of the Staffordshire oatcake, a soft, pliable pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast and cooked on a griddle. Unlike the hard, biscuit-style Scottish oatcake, the Staffordshire version is closer to a thin, flexible pikelet that is most often filled with cheese, bacon, sausage or egg. The day is a grassroots, community-driven event rather than a corporate campaign, and it is celebrated most enthusiastically across Stoke-on-Trent and the North Staffordshire towns where the oatcake remains a daily staple.
When is National Oatcake Day?
National Oatcake Day falls on Saturday, 8 August 2026. It is a fixed-date observance, held on 8 August every year regardless of the day of the week, and 2026 marks the day landing on a weekend, which is ideal for visiting an oatcake shop or hosting a relaxed brunch at home.
The History of National Oatcake Day
The Staffordshire oatcake has a far longer history than the awareness day that celebrates it. Oatcakes of this style were being cooked on home griddles in the region as far back as the 18th century, when oatmeal was a cheap and reliable staple for working families. During the industrial age the oatcake became deeply tied to the Potteries, where farm labourers who moved into Stoke-on-Trent to work in the pottery factories brought the tradition with them. Cheap, filling and easy to carry, oatcakes became so commonplace that nearly every terraced street was said to have its own oatcake shop sitting alongside the grocer, the pub and the fish and chip shop.
One of the most distinctive parts of the tradition was the “hole in the wall” oatcake shop, where customers bought their oatcakes straight from the window of a converted terraced house. The last surviving shop of this kind, in Stoke-on-Trent, closed for a period in 2012 before reopening a few years later, a small revival that captured how much affection local people still hold for the oatcake.
National Oatcake Day itself is a much more recent creation. It was founded in 2010 by Terry Bossons, a radio DJ from Biddulph, who wanted to give the oatcake a day of its own and celebrate a food that is a genuine point of regional pride. The first major event took place on 8 August 2010 in Stoke-on-Trent, and local businesses quickly got behind it, offering special deals and putting oatcakes front and centre. Helped along by radio coverage and social media, the day has grown steadily into a fixture of the North Staffordshire calendar.
Fun Facts About National Oatcake Day
- The Staffordshire oatcake is sometimes affectionately called the “Tunstall tortilla” or “Potteries poppadom” because of its flexible, wrap-like texture.
- Unlike Scottish oatcakes, which are crisp and biscuit-like, Staffordshire oatcakes are soft and made with yeast, giving them a gentle rise.
- The classic order across the Potteries is “cheese and bacon”, grilled until the cheese melts and the oatcake is folded over.
- Oatcakes were historically sold directly from the front windows of terraced houses in the famous “hole in the wall” style.
- The recipe needs only a handful of cheap, everyday ingredients: oatmeal, flour, yeast, salt and water or milk.
- National Oatcake Day was created by a local radio DJ rather than a food company, making it a true grassroots celebration.
Why National Oatcake Day Matters
National Oatcake Day matters because it protects and promotes a regional food tradition that might otherwise be overlooked. The oatcake is a genuine emblem of North Staffordshire identity, tied to the area’s industrial heritage and to generations of working families. Celebrating it supports the independent bakers who keep the craft alive, encourages people to discover a dish that rarely features on national menus, and keeps a piece of local culinary history firmly on the map.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Oatcake Day?
It is an annual celebration of the Staffordshire oatcake, a soft, savoury oat pancake from the Stoke-on-Trent area, traditionally filled with cheese, bacon, sausage or egg. It was founded in 2010 to champion this regional speciality.
When is National Oatcake Day in 2026?
National Oatcake Day is on Saturday, 8 August 2026. It is held on the same date every year.
Is National Oatcake Day about Scottish or Staffordshire oatcakes?
It celebrates the Staffordshire oatcake, the soft, yeast-risen pancake style from the Potteries, not the hard, biscuit-style oatcake associated with Scotland. The two foods share a name but are very different.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best oatcake fillings on social media with #NationalOatcakeDay and #NationalOatcakeDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to track down their nearest oatcake shop!
Related Awareness Days
- National Pancake Day – Another griddle-cooked favourite, perfect for anyone who loves a good batter.
- Blackcurrant Day – A fellow celebration of a much-loved British food with deep regional roots.
- Goat Cheese Day – Ideal inspiration for an adventurous oatcake filling.
Links
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