Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Bulldog Bash

The Bulldog Bash was an annual motorcycle rally, with a reported attendance of 50,000 people in 2007. It was held over a weekend in mid-August, at the former Shakespeare County Raceway, situated outside of Stratford-upon-Avon in England. The last event was in 2017, as the planned 2018 weekend was cancelled due to the venue being sold for housing development.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Bulldog Bash
Fight for your right to party
StatusDefunct
GenreMotorcycle rally & Rock music
FrequencyAnnual
VenueShakespeare County Raceway
LocationsLong Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon
CountryEngland
Inaugurated1987
FounderHells Angels
Most recent
2017
WebsiteBulldog Bash (archived)

The Bulldog Bash was an annual motorcycle rally, with a reported attendance of 50,000 people in 2007. It was held over a weekend in mid-August, at the former Shakespeare County Raceway, situated outside of Stratford-upon-Avon in England. The last event was in 2017, as the planned 2018 weekend was cancelled due to the venue being sold for housing development.123

History

The event started as a small gathering organised by the Hells Angels motorcycle club for bikers. Since 1987, the event grew to one of the largest motorcycle festivals in Europe, with a record 50,000 people reported to have attended in 2007.

The festival was hosted at the Shakespeare County Raceway in the village of Long Marston, Warwickshire, England since 1987, and always occurred in mid-August. Since its inception, it has followed largely the same format (though expanded for larger crowds and included bigger name bands): providing entertainment aimed at the motorcycle riding fraternity, including live rock music, beer tents, motorcycle racing, drag racing and stunt riding demonstrations. Adult entertainment traditionally featured high on the bill, including a wet T-shirt contest, erotic dance shows and a topless bike wash.

In April 2013 it was announced that the 2013 event had been cancelled.4 The event returned in 20145 and for 2015.6

Security and crime

Inspector Dave Patterson from the Warwickshire Police is quoted to have said about the 2006 event: "There was just four crimes reported on site and only three arrests during the four-day event. Although traffic to and from the Long Marston site was greater than normal, the traffic plan worked well."7

Charities

The Hells Angels's Bulldog Bash 2015 raised £750 for the Coventry and Warwickshire Living Well with Dementia Partnership charity.8

References

References

  1. Houses to be built on Long Marston Airfield Flyer, 15 January 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2019
  2. Application submitted for South Western Relief Road and Long Marston Airfield development Stratford Observer, 27 June 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2019
  3. Brakes need to be put on building of garden village at airfield says councillor Stratford Observer, 14 September 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2019
  4. "Bulldog Bash biker festival in Long Marston cancelled". BBC News. BBC. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. "Bulldog Bash biker festival in Long Marston returns". BBC News. BBC. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. "Bikers flock to Bulldog Bash". Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. 9 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  7. Houlder, Di. "Bulldog Bash – Police Overview". The Police Media Portal. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  8. "£750 raised at a local Bulldog Bash to support a new dementia day care in Alcester". livingwellwithdementiacoventryandwarwickshire.wordpress.com. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
Further reading

Further reading