Pickle Night celebrates the arrival in London early on November 6th, 1805, of Lieutenant John Lapenotiere, commander of the fast schooner HMS Pickle, carrying news of victory over the French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson.
Coots celebrate Pickle Night on the Saturday closest to November 6th by downing a tot of rum, or other suitable beverage, reading a passage from one of C. S. Forester's or Patrick O'Brien's Napoleonic Wars novels, and thinking about Lt. Lapenotiere's race to England in the fast little Pickle and grueling coach journey from Plymouth to London with news of the great naval victory.