The director of a food and drink festival which was cancelled just weeks before it was due to take place in Skipton is facing court proceedings.
The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival was due to be held at Aireville Park in Skipton from 18th to 20th July 2025, but organisers Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd pulled the plug on the event on 4th July.
Now, the Staffordshire-based company's director, Jon Arrowsmith, has been charged with a number of alleged licensing, advertising and event management offences, according to North Yorkshire Council's trading standards team.
Arrowsmith, of Thurlstone Road, Walsall, is expected to appear before York Magistrates' Court on 2nd September.
Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd took over the running of the three-day festival in 2024 after its previous operator, B3 Events Ltd, went into liquidation.
The company, which also organised the Lichfield Food Festival in Staffordshire, had promoted a programme featuring masterclasses with celebrity chefs including Hairy Biker Si King, live music and luxury camping.
Chefs pulled out before cancellation
Just a fortnight before the Skipton festival was due to begin, chefs James Martin, Rosemary Shrager and Galton Blackiston announced they would no longer be appearing.
Disco performers Brutus Gold's Love Train also withdrew from the event.
On 4th July 2025, Arrowsmith announced that the festival had been cancelled, prompting North Yorkshire Council's trading standards officers to launch an investigation.
The investigation has now resulted in charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
Both Arrowsmith and Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd are accused of failing to provide information required for an entertainment licence application and of not submitting a press notice before a specified deadline.
They are also accused of offering tickets for sale without providing the correct information about the event.
In addition, it is alleged that Facebook posts advertising Si King's appearance were not corrected after his withdrawal from the festival.
Trading standards officers also allege that Arrowsmith and the company failed to confirm contracts with chefs and other performers who had been due to appear.
Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd's registered office is at Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre in Lichfield, Staffordshire, according to North Yorkshire Council.
The allegations have not been proven and the case is due to be heard at York Magistrates' Court on 2nd September.
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